How to Festival

The National Multicultural Festival includes several massive free events in the city centre, plus very affordable events by the lakes and right across town in community centres, clubs and galleries throughout the fortnight.

There’s also a suite of well-priced shows at Canberra’s main theatres, also in the city centre: Canberra Theatre Centre’s three theatres (Civic Square, London Circuit) and The Street Theatre’s two theatres (Childers Street). The Festival Card offers discounts at all ticketed events.

Free entertainment every evening and weekends

Every evening after work, drop by the Fringe Festival in Civic Square for a cool drink and a line-up of free music, dance, theatre and comedy. It’s on every night from 8 to 16 February. There’s a bar on site.

Lunchtime showcases in Garema Place also offer a range of free entertainment every day.

The weekends will bring a sea of people to the city centre. Thousands descend on City Walk on Saturday, February 9 to sample around 190 stalls at the Food and Dance Spectacular—followed by a big night at Fringe Festival, into the wee hours.

The next day, Sunday, February 10, the smorgasbord of fun and information continues with Contact Canberra and the well-loved Greek Glendi in Garema Place.

Saturday, February 16 includes the daytime Pacific Islands Showcase, then City Walk turns into one big dance party during Carnivale! well into the night.

Stalls and activities on both Saturdays stretch from Garema Place right down City Walk (in front of the Canberra Centre), and up to Civic Square (home of the Fringe Festival, outside the Legislative Assembly and Canberra Theatre Centre).

Ticketing

Tickets for events should be purchased from the individual venues. Contact and pricing details are at each entry in this program. There are discounts for concession card holders and Festival Card holders.

Festival Card Discounts

For just $10, the Festival Card offers concession rates on all ticketed events – great savings if you attend as little as two or more shows!

Festival Cards are available through the Canberra Theatre Centre, The Street Theatre and through the Multicultural Festival office in the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, Level 2, North Building, 180 London Circuit (entrance in Civic Square) or phone 6207 0162.

Parking and Road Closures

There will be some road closures on London Circuit for the Festival launch, on the evening of February 8 and both Saturdays. Car parks will be accessible but large crowds will also mean limited parking in the city centre, so consider alternative transport.

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