Global Beats lantern parade rescheduled

THE Global Beats Byron Bay Harmony Week World Music Lantern Parade has been rescheduled to this Saturday April 5 due to wet weather last weekend.

The event will include a parade, as well as cultural performances, multicultural food stalls and lantern-making workshops at Byron Twilight Market.

Festival organiser Mayu Akiba, from Byron Multicultural Inc., said it was logistically challenging to change the date of the event, but with the amount of rain forecast it was safer to reschedule.

“We had to ask all the musicians and volunteers if they were available, and many artists had saved the date for this event for a long time, so it was really hard,” she said.

“I also had to communicate with the police to get another public assembly permit, a new council permit, check the Lismore lantern team’s availability and the Twilight Market artists.”

Akiba said it was disheartening when things like this happened, but the joy she got from the community on the day made it worthwhile.

“Every event I worry about weather because it is all outdoors,” she said. “We don’t get any income from tickets so most of the work is done on a voluntary basis, and we all end up thinking, ‘why are we putting in all this time and effort without pay?’. But on the event day when the committee members see the local families enjoying the night out it is a special feeling, with lots of joy and smiles.

“As Harmony Day is in the rainy season, we struggle with the weather every year,” she said.

Akiba said she hoped Byron Shire Council would take Queensland’s lead and hold Multicultural Month in August. “It’s always sunny then and there aren’t as many other events on.”

The event will begin with a mini cultural concert at Main Beach at 3.30pm.