About half of Australia’s citizens were born overseas or have a parent from overseas. Our nation comprises more than 200 countries of origin, claiming 300 spoken languages!
On Saturday 25 March 2023, Byron Multicultural will celebrate Harmony Week 2023 with Global Beats Byron Bay – World Music Lantern Parade; a stellar lineup of music, dance and rhythms.
Australia is regarded by many as one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it. The message of Harmony Week is ‘Everyone belongs’. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community.
Global Beats Byron Bay – World Music Lantern Parade celebrates Harmony Week 2023 with a free event that will feature two outstanding local percussion and music groups; the Japanese inspired Byron Taiko and the Brazilian Batala Percussion. Both of these groups engage all year round with the local community through workshops and performances.
The two groups will assemble for the parade with a drum-up at Apex Park, Main Beach at 4pm on Saturday 25 March, before heading along Jonson Street to arrive at the Railway Park Twilight Artisan Markets. Batala will finish there with a drum performance before heading to their next celebration that evening in Brunswick Heads.
Meanwhile, there will be free Japanese Lantern Making activities at the Artisan Markets between 5pm and 7pm, for children and adults. These will be followed by a second parade after dark, led by Byron Taiko, returning along Jonson Street, back to Apex Park, with the lanterns made at the Artisan Markets.
The free Harmony Week 2023 Global Beats Byron Bay – World Music Lantern Parade has been made possible with financial support from Byron Shire Council and other support from Byron Youth Services and the Byron Twilight Artisan Market.
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