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Diwali Mela Lantern Festival

Dust off the picnic set and start practising those Bollywood moves for this year’s Diwali Mela Lantern Festival in Queanbeyan on Saturday October 26 at Waniassa Park. QPRC and the Queanbeyan Multicultural Centre have once again teamed up to create a bigger and better free Diwali celebration for the whole Queanbeyan community to come along and enjoy in 2024.

A fantastic addition to this year’s celebration is SBS joining in as media partners and they will be attending the event with activities and giveaways along with a media team to capture all the action at the event. To learn more about Diwali and how it’s celebrated in different cultures follow the link to the SBS Diwali webpage.

One of the most exciting and inclusive part of this event is the lantern parade. From around 8.30pm people of all ages and nationalities will journey around part of the river walk with their lanterns in a celebration of light. Anyone is welcome to join the parade with their own battery operated light or lantern.

Don’t have a lantern? You can make a lantern at the Southern Tablelands Art Lantern Making workshop space from 6pm on the night, it’s free and all materials will be provided.

Parking Guide

Free parking is available at the Collett Street Car Park, Rutledge Street Car Park and behind Kmart.

Limited accessible parks are available at the Wanniassa Street Tennis Club and a drop off area is available on Wanniassa Street in front of the road closure.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

No. This event is open to all ages.

What can I bring into the event?

You are welcome to bring your own food to the event. This event is alcohol free and you cannot bring your own alcohol.

This event is outdoor so please be mindful of the weather and bring things that will make you comfortable, like a picnic blanket.

Entertainment

The fabulous Panjabi Bhangra Force groups with artists across multiple age groups and the Knights of Bhangra will perform. Two new groups showcasing Nepali cultural dancing, Nepalese heartbeats and a Newari group and a fusion of Tamil, Mayayalam and Telugu song and dance from Nandri Vanakkam.

Everyone will be up and dancing to the Canberra School of Bollywood Dancing and Bollywood Rhythms, make sure your dancing shoes are ready to go. The dance school’s video below gives you a sneak peek as to what’s in store for everyone on 26 October.

The evening will wrap up with DJ Laddu and the fabulous drummers.

Food Vendors

This year’s food offerings will set your tastebuds alight from an African BBQ to Sri Lankan Street food, delicious Nepali Mo Mo’s, gelato and Indian sweets and an amazing array of North Indian Street food and traditional Indian favourites.

Diwali Festival Queanbeyan 2023 — Diwali Festival Queanbeyan 2024

Food Vendors

What type of lanterns can I bring?

Anyone is welcome to bring their own battery operated light or lantern. Candles, oil lamps or open flames of any kind are not permitted at this event.