This year’s festival has been moved to the Queanbeyan Showground to accommodate the growing crowds. Photo: QPRC.
Queanbeyan is kicking off the spring festival season this weekend with the Diwali Mela Lantern Festival, a celebration hosted by the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) in conjunction with community groups that represent the diversity of the region.
Diwali, also known as the festival of light, is a Hindu festival celebrated around the world, and Queanbeyan’s event, which is in its third year, is being relocated from Waniassa Park to the Queanbeyan Showground to accommodate the expected increase in numbers.
“This event has been growing annually. Last year, an estimated 4000 people attended the event, which is more than double the number at the inaugural celebration in 2023,” a QPRC spokesperson said.
The main lantern parade will take place after dark. Photo: QPRC.
The well-organised and vibrant event has been cementing itself into the community calendar, with SBS – an event sponsor – reporting that the festival was the most impressive regional Diwali celebration it had attended.
QPRC manages an active events schedule in the region and said the Diwali celebration came about in recognition of the growth the council was seeing in the community, with it being one of NSW’s most culturally diverse areas outside of Sydney, with 42 ethnic groups and nationalities calling the region home.
“Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the biggest language changes in the Queanbeyan-Palerang region were a rise in Nepali and Punjabi speakers, with Hindi also making it into the top 10 languages spoken in our region,” QPRC said.
With the attendance numbers on the up, the scope of the event has been broadened, with the start time moving earlier to 5 pm and the number of community performances increasing from nine to 14.
Running alongside the main stage performances, attendees will be able to participate in the lantern parade, where a procession of lit lanterns will make its way through the showground just after dark.
The main stage will host community performances. Photo: QPRC.
There’ll be family activities such as lantern-making workshops, a children’s activity zone with a jumping castle and face painting, and the main sponsor of the event, SBS, will have its own zone for giveaways, activities and a chance for locals to share their stories on camera.
Mayor Kenrick Winchester is thrilled to see the celebration of unity and diversity bring the community together.
“Whether Diwali is something you celebrate with your family and friends or it’s entirely new to you, this event is about coming together, sharing in the joy, and appreciating the rich culture and sense of connection that make our community so unique,” the mayor said.
The festival has secured a huge turnout of food trucks to feed the crowds. Staying true to the core theme of the festival, Canberra’s Tikka Stand will be there dishing up the Indian street food it built its name on over the past 10 years in the region.
Local Queanbeyan Indian restaurant Punjabi Hut will be there to please the crowds, alongside Party Time Nepal, which will have dumplings, sausages and snacks covered, and in the spirit of diversity, there will be food represented from across the globe.
Dozens of food trucks will be heading to Queanbeyan’s Diwali Mela Lantern Festival. Photo: QPRC.
Tacontento will be making its rolled Mexican tacos, Pharoah’s Bites will give you the chance to try authentic Egyptian street food, Canan Turkish Gozleme will be making the famous Turkish filled flatbreads, The Dumpling Diplomat specialise in Nepalese momos and Desi Lounge will be serving Indo-Chinese street food.
You won’t have to leave without dessert either; Bungendore’s Mellabella Gelato will be scooping its local, artisan gelato, Croffle & Co will give you a chance to try the unique and somewhat viral treat of croissant dough made in a waffle iron, and there are no guesses as to what the Fairy Floss Kingdom will be serving.
That isn’t even half the list of food vendors, so no-one will be left hungry on the night as they take in the community atmosphere, which will all wrap up with a fireworks display.
Queanbeyan’s Diwali Mela Lantern Festival is a free event that will take place on Saturday 18 October at the Queanbeyan Showground. Gates open at 5 pm, the parade takes place at 8:30 pm and the fireworks display starts at 9 pm.
