2022 Focus On Festival History

The Cowra Festival of International Understanding will be back in 2022, but rather than a focus on an individual country, next year will see the celebration of the proud history of the Festival, all past and future guest nations and by extension, the cultural history and diversity of the Cowra region.

“Conducting the Festival over the past few years with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. Securing a guest nation for 2022 has been particularly difficult with those embassies contacted not being prepared to commit given the uncertainty over the pandemic,” said General Manager, Paul Devery.

“As a result, the Festival Working Party has come up with a program that provides the Cowra Shire community a welcome opportunity for re-connecting, recovering and renewing,” Mr Devery said.

Taking place from 31 March - 3 April 2022, the Festival format will be similar to previous years with headline events including the opening dinner, parade, carnival, Youth Ambassador program and sporting events.

“A number of school and community activities and competitions will be conducted in the weeks leading up to the Festival and we’re planning school and seniors’ workshops that incorporate Indigenous and multicultural activities,” said Festival Coordinator, Meredith Burton.

“We’ll also be broadening the ever-popular karaoke competition into a ‘Cowra’s got Talent’ competition with some huge prizes on offer.

The Carnival on Saturday 2nd April promises to be a real highlight. There will be carnival rides, fireworks, community performances, the talent quest finals, as well as red-hot Latin, soul and funk band, Gang of Brothers from Sydney providing a real party atmosphere,” Meredith continued.

A Community Information night will take place on Monday 29 November 2021 at 6pm in the Falcon Room of the Cowra Services Club, where the Festival Coordinator will present an overview of Festival plans for 2022. Representatives from schools, sporting organisations, cultural groups and social groups are invited to attend.

More information will be available on the Cowra Festival of International Understanding Facebook page or through the Cowra Council Website.