The festival will kick off at Horsham Town Hall on Saturday.
“Running from 10am to 1.30pm, it will include performances, a free multicultural lunch and a chance to talk to local services who support the community,” she said.
“There will be a photo booth, market stalls, children’s activities and a chance to sing with a karaoke machine over lunch.”
The following Saturday, March 21, Stawell and Ararat will each host events to celebrate their diversity in harmony.
In Ararat, there will be activities from 10.30am to 1pm, followed by festivities in Stawell from noon to 4pm.
“Activities at Ararat Town Hall will feature home-cooked foods from different countries, cultural dance performances, handicraft market stalls, and more. The day is supported by Ararat Neighbourhood House and Rural Australians for Refugees,” Ms Baron said.
“The Grampians Harmony Festival at Stawell Town Hall runs from 12-4pm and will feature food, music, costumes, arts and crafts and family fun.”
The festival will bring together Stawell’s diverse community to celebrate culture, connection and inclusion, with event highlights set to include live multicultural performances, including some visiting from Melbourne.
Organised by Grampians Multicultural Hub, at least 11 different countries will be represented, including Vanuatu, Thailand, Peru, Phillipines, Nigeria, Brazil, India, China, Nauru, Fiji and Nepal.
Ms Baron said Nhill would host the festival’s final act on March 28, at Nhill’s Jaypex Park from 10am to 1pm.
“Nhill’s activities include market stalls, cultural food and performance, many featuring the local Karen community,” she said.
Locally produced ‘Paw Po’ handcrafted products, which translates to ‘little flower’ in Karen, will be on show and sale at the major events at Horsham, Ararat, Stawell and Nhill.
There will also be free buses running between towns so that Wimmera residents can attend each other’s events.
Other features during the fortnight will include two screenings of the locally produced Shared Table film, in Nhill on March 20 and Horsham on March 26.
“This much-anticipated documentary uses shared meals and conversations to show how Nhill has opened its heart to new neighbours and how food helps create a sense of home and belonging,” Ms Barron said.
She encouraged workplaces to sign up to host lunches or morning teas as part of the ‘Diversity at Work’ program.
Participating workplaces can receive a free event pack to help plan, host and cater for a food-associated workplace gathering.
Events and buses are free but pre-booking is essential. To book and find out more go to wsm.org.au/harmony-cultural-diversity-week.
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