Multicultural Food Festival Will Draw Another Big Crowd

There will be food for Africa at this weekend’s annual Southland Multicultural Food Festival at ILT Stadium Southland.

Now in its 16th year, the event is held close to Race Relations Day and attracts thousands of people, eager to try a range of ethnic foods – this year there will be a record 47 vendors.

Southland Multicultural Trust president Jo Wilson said new performers will put a different twist on things, and there was a waiting list of people and volunteers wanting to be involved.

“We are at capacity and we’d need another court to be able to grow bigger,” she said.

Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark, Southland District Mayor Rob Scott and MP Penny Simmonds have all confirmed their attendance.

Jo said the committee wanted to encourage people to try something new, especially since many of the vendors only brought their food to this one particular event in Southland.

One of the interesting dishes on offer was raw fish from Kiribati but there would be classic favourites as well such as the popular ‘spin spuds’ and cupcakes.

“It’s real authentic food from all different ethnic cultures, that people wouldn’t normally get to try.”

Last year nine of the vendors sold out their food by lunchtime, so the secret was to come early and avoid the crowds.

“You get to share a table with strangers and meet new people, try something new…the best part is seeing how much people enjoy the day.  It’s not what people expect,” she said.