Festival of Cultures 2008

The skies, bars, theatres and cafes resonated to the cultural sounds from around the world as around 10,000 – 12,000 descended on Palmerston North City Square for the World, Food Craft and Music Fair in March 2008. Many local acts took to the stage and showcased to the community their cultural dances and music. The top billing was Elena one of this country’s most talented and innovative violinists. Her ability to breathe new life into classical compositions by drawing on the musical and cultural traditions of New Zealand’s first people Maori was truly stunning.For the first time the Festival ran for a week with events such as Strange Resting Places at The Globe described by many as “a spellbinding little gem of a show that had everyone laughing a lot and crying just a little”. A series of Library talks which included a wonderful presentation by Dr Jacqueline Leckie who told the story of her book Indian Settlers.The inaugural Café Culture programme was also well received by many and this year hopes to offer even more for 2009.The Festival team have compiled an exciting gallery of images that bring back to life all over again the Festival of Cultures 2008 – hopefully they will help curb those pangs of anxiety in the wait leading up to the next Festival in March 2009!!