Pako Festa opens bookings

PREPARE your tastebuds for the flavours of Geelong’s 19 ethnic communities as Pako Festa officially opens for bookings.

The festival’s global food offering aims to please the diverse palates’ of eventgoers who can sample a range of unique cuisines across 13 designated locations.

Last month event director Luisa LaFornara announced the iconic Geelong West festival would take on a new format after 38 years.

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, traditional vendors will be replaced by a broader offering of dine-in and takeaway experiences across different locations, each with their own cultural display and entertainment.

Dine-in options will be limited to one location with all reservations and takeaway orders to be made online.

“We need people to pre-book online for a few reasons,” Ms LaFornara said.

“It allows us to stagger the arrival times and control numbers, facilitate contact tracing if required and to send out COVID-safe information to patrons prior to the event as required by the government.”

Through the online bookings, eventgoers will be able to browse the location and menu options for each participating community group.

Ms LaFornara said Geelong’s ethnic communities were looking forward to showcasing their culture through the new format.

“We hear time and time again how much people enjoy the multicultural food at Pako Festa each year, so we are delighted that we can continue to offer this for people to enjoy in 2021 in a COVID-safe way,” she said.

All proceeds raised through online food purchases will be donated back to the ethnic communities to help the ongoing sustainability of their respective groups.

Time slots will be available for February 27 between 10.30am-4pm. To confirm your reservation head to bookings.pakofesta.com.au for more info.

Eventgoers are being strongly encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

 

Full list of locations and cuisines:

Diversitat Hub

25-41 Arunga Ave, Norlane VIC 3214

Cuisines: Dutch, Filipino, Japanese

 

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Op

62 Morgan St, North Geelong VIC 3215

Cuisine: Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Op

 

West Town Hall

153 Pakington St, Geelong West VIC 3218

Cuisine: Bangladeshi

 

Ukrainian Club

57 Pakington St, Geelong West VIC 3218

Cuisines: French, Ukrainian

 

Macedonian Club

465 Ballarat Rd, Batesford VIC 3213

Cuisine: Macedonian

 

Polish Club

46-48 Fellmongers Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219

Cuisine: Polish

 

Cloverdale Community Centre

167-169 Purnell Rd, Corio VIC 3214

Cuisine: Thai

 

Serbian Club

240 Plantation Rd, Corio VIC 3214

Cuisine: Serbian

 

Croatian Club

172/182 Cox Rd, Corio VIC 3214

Cuisine: Croatian

 

Greek Club

1/3 Taliska Ave, Hamlyn Heights VIC 3215

Cuisine: Greek

 

West Park

207 Pakington St, Geelong West VIC 3218

Cuisines: Bosnian, Iranian

 

Pettit Park

7-13 Beauford Ave, Bell Post Hill VIC 3215

Cuisine: Fijian, Indonesian, Pakistani

 

Centenary Hall

1-9 Cox Rd, Norlane VIC 3214

Cuisine: Nepalese