Beats and bites street food festival celebrates growth in new market

HUNDREDS of people celebrated food, music and culture as the Global Beats and Bites Street Food Festival made a successful debut in Ballina.

The festival relocated from Byron Bay to Fawcett Park this year, providing a larger event footprint and attracting families and visitors from across the Northern Rivers.

Dumplings were among the most popular street food dishes at the event. Photo: Lyn McCarthy.

The program featured Japanese Taiko drumming, Pacific Island entertainment, African rhythms, cultural dance performances and an array of international street food.

There were performances by Kaoly Asano from the acclaimed Tokyo-based troupe Gocoo, Elliott Orr’s Zormiwasa ensemble, Brazilian folk musicians, Egyptian belly dancers and classical Chinese string fusion artists.

The Zormiwasa ensemble performed at the event. Photo: Lyn McCarthy

Presented by Byron Multicultural Inc in collaboration with Only Good Times Events Company, the event marked a new chapter for the festival, which began as the Byron Theatre Showcase in 2021 before evolving into a popular Harmony Week celebration in Byron Bay over the past five years.

The fairy floss pop-up stall was a big hit at the festival. Photo: Lyn McCarthy.

Event organiser Mayu Akiba said the move to Ballina had helped introduce the festival to new audiences while maintaining support from those who had attended previous events.

“We’re excited to reach new communities across the Northern Rivers while welcoming back the people who have supported us over the last few years,” she said.

Families from across the region attended the Global Beats and Bites Street Food festival. Photo: Lyn McCarthy.

“We’ll still run events out of Byron Bay, but this time we wanted to put everything into this festival.

“Our goal has always been to strengthen community connections, support young people and create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome, and it was incredibly rewarding to see that come to life.”