Buzz builds for All One Under the Sun Festival at Brelsford Park

EXCITEMENT is building for the All One Under the Sun Festival, happening Saturday 29 November at Brelsford Park.

Organisers promise a lively cultural event styled as a global street market combined with creative activities for all ages.

More than 30 community organisations, 10 schools, multiple food vendors, and 18 cultural performance groups are working to deliver “a warm, welcoming and deeply moving celebration of everyone’s journey to calling the Coffs Coast home, from Gumbaynggirr custodians to the most recently arrived and everyone in between,” Festival Coordinator Andrew Davis from lead organisation STARTTS said.

“School classrooms are glowing with creativity as over 300 students craft lanterns for the twilight parade, while community halls, garages and backyards, are humming with the sound of dance rehearsals.

“Food stallholders are perfecting dishes rich with heritage and flavour, and local organisations are busy designing a huge array of hands-on creative, cultural and sports activities that will fill the festival grounds with joyful chaos and connection.”

There will be free kids’ activities throughout the park, including face painting, henna, hair braiding, inflatables, a giant Ninja run, silent disco and mini sports comps.

Among the many cultural groups preparing for the big day is ROJ, an eight-member Kurdish dance collective bringing energy and pride to the stage.

Meaning “sun” in their native Kurmanji language, ROJ’s traditional performance showcases authentic music and regional dance styles from all parts of Kurdistan.

“Dancing together connects us deeply – it’s healing, it’s joyful, and it keeps our culture, ancestors and community spirit alive,” group members said.

The day will also feature Gumbaynggirr weaving, lantern and prop-making, drumming and dance workshops, cultural cooking demos and tastings, a traditional Eritrean coffee ceremony and more.

The musical lineup includes Shane Howard (Goanna), Bart Willoughby (No Fixed Address), Emma Donovan, the Docker River Band, Worlds Collide, Ali Shkaki Band and Santa Taranta.

As the sun sets, the park will be transformed by a lantern parade and performances under the stars.

“This festival is built by the community, from the ground up,” Mr Davis said.

“Every lantern, every performance, every dish, every activity, is shaped by people who call the Coffs Coast home.”

Festivities kick off early with the inaugural All One Under the Sun World Cup on Friday 28 November – a vibrant community soccer event under the lights at Coffs Coast Synthetics.

For more visit alloneunderthesun.com.au.

By Andrea FERRARI