Ile Ilu performing at Culture Mix in 2024. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Wollongong’s biggest multicultural festival, Culture Mix, will be back in 2025 thanks to a grant from the NSW Government.
The much-loved celebration of Wollongong’s diversity, run by Wollongong City Council, was first held in 2023 and again in 2024 in the city centre.
It attracted more than 16,000 people in 2024, and with a $250,000 funding grant under the government’s Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival program, it should be bigger and better than ever in 2025.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said the festival was a labour of love from the wide range of community groups and organisations that participated.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government has seen the value of this wonderful community event and provided a funding grant that will allow us to deliver this celebration again in 2025,’’ Councillor Brown said.
“Anyone who was involved with or attended Culture Mix in the past two years would know just how colourful, fun and joyous this event is.
“It’s terrific that we’ll be able to do it again.’’
Wollongong City Council community services director Kerry Hunt said Culture Mix was a unique festival on the council’s event calendar, and she was grateful the State Government recognised its significance to the community.
“Culture Mix is unique in that, while it’s coordinated by the council, we work really closely with people of all ages and backgrounds to ensure it’s a celebration that captures the broadest representation possible of our city’s multicultural community,’’ Ms Hunt said.
“The original events were made possible through a two-year grant from the NSW Government and so to be able to continue this event in its third year is just wonderful.’’
Following the announcement, the council will now work to deliver the one-day event on Saturday, 20 September.
As in previous years, the event will be held in a variety of locations in the lower Crown Street Mall, Lower Crown Street and through into the Arts Precinct.
The program will see the return of elements such as the Food Fair, World Stage, Culture Kids program and interactive workshops at the Wollongong Library.
Other activities that encourage participation are also on the cards.
“We’re hitting the ground running with our planning for the 2025 event and will be reaching out to our community to see who would like to be involved this time around,’’ Cr Brown said.
“I encourage people to make sure they’re following Wollongong City Council’s social media channels for updates on this exciting event.
“There will be announcements about upcoming Community Development Grants, which will offer opportunities for local creatives to develop new contemporary and cross-cultural works for presentation at the festival.’’
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