2 Worlds Festival to bring cultures together

THE 2 Worlds Festival returns to the Fyansford Paper Mills on October 20. After a highly successful inaugural event which saw 1,500 people attend the festival, this year’s event will go up a notch with more headline acts, more stages and more activities.

The 2 Worlds Festival aims to bring our cultures together in a fun, entertaining and interactive festival atmosphere and is a fundraising event for the Märrma’ Rom Foundation

The 2 Worlds Festival will showcase a variety of indigenous and western performers, art, traditional and not so traditional activities, Indigenous and modern multicultural food offerings – a true celebration of culture and walking in 2 worlds.

The headline acts include Adalita, Baker Boy, Darren Percival, Shane Howard, Tim Rogers, William Crighton and Yirrmal and the Miliyawutj with at least another 20 local and national musicians performing across five stages.

The event will also feature a variety of workshops, activities for kids, interactive dance demonstrations, visual light shows, silent disco with western and Indigenous songs and pop up performances from both cultures.

The importance of a culturally significant location to both Indigenous and western culture has meant the ideal location for the event is The Old Paper Mills in Fyansford. With its recent evolution as a future arts and events hub, this location will have long term significance to culture in the Geelong region. Similarly, the area is also culturally significant to the Wathaurong people as a ceremonial ground. In addition the Old Paper Mills is located at Buckley Falls, the incredible story of William Buckley is a tremendous example of a person crossing cultures and embracing a foreign world view.

The inspiration for the 2 Worlds Festival comes from the Märrma’ Rom Foundation. (“Märrma’ Rom” translates to ‘two worlds, two cultures or two belief systems’ in Yolngu Matha, the language of the people in Arnhem Land). 2 Worlds Festival is a not-for-profit event that aims to grow organically into a recognised major event that entertains, educates, stimulates and promotes interaction and understanding across two cultures.

The 2 Worlds Festival, will be held at Fyansford Paper Mills, Geelong on October 20 from noon-10pm.

First release tickets from $59 are now on sale, with entry free to accompanied children under 12. For more information and tickets, head to 2worldsfestival.org.au.