Media Release

Monday, 19 October 2009

Community members throughout the Swan Hill region are invited to come along to Riverside Park on the 24 October and celebrate the region, its people and culture.

Kicking off at 5pm, the alcohol-free event will include the official launch of the Go North Arts Festival along with the presentation of the 2009 Cultural Achievement Awards, as well as plenty of entertainment, including singing, dancing and traditional performance from Australia and around the world.

Event organiser and Go North committee member Kim Bennett said the event would be a fun-filled occasion celebrating the region and its identity.

“The community celebration will draw together our multi-cultural community with food, theatre, puppetry and music and will be a great evening out for the whole family,” she said.

“We're encouraging our community to bring a picnic rug down to Riverside Park and sit back, relax and enjoy music from DJ Tiges, Sandra Jacobsen and the Double A Jazz Band, experience the tastes of the world from the international and Australian foods on offer at the event – or if you prefer, bring your own hamper.”

A roving performer and bellydancers will also entertain the crowd on the day, while later in the evening, a traditional smoking ceremony will lead the performance of Pondi: the Giant Murray Cod which will be brought to life through the use of puppetry, dance, music and theatre and will tell the story of how the Murray River was created.

“We welcome everyone from our community to come on down to Riverside Park, celebrate our region and have a great evening out while doing so,” Ms Bennett said.

For more information regarding the Go North Arts Festival please visit www.gonorthartsfestival.info.