Sydney Festival is a major arts festival in Australia's largest city, Sydney that runs for three weeks every January, since it was established in 1977. The festival program features in excess of 100 events from local and international artists and includes contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks. The festival attracts approximately 500,000 people to its large-scale free outdoor events and 150,000 to its ticketed events.
The origins of the Sydney Festival are in the Waratah Festival which was established in 1956 by the Sydney Committee and took place from late October to early November. It was an important cultural event which included a parade, a popular art competition, beauty contests, exhibitions, performances.
Sydney Festival was established with a view to attracting people into the city centre during the summer holiday month of January. In many ways it is probably still best understood as a celebration of Sydney and what the city has to offer. In the festivals early years, its program offered everything from vintage car rallies, face-painting and kite-flying to bocce, dog obedience trials and Chinese scarf dancing.
For three weeks, the festival offers a program of more than 330 performances and 100 events involving 900 artists from 17 countries,1 covering dance, theatre, music, visual arts, cross media and forums.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
The carnival is organised for people with disability based on the theme, "Dis-playing abilities through sport.
This is the first of its kind to be organised in the country.
Speaking at the opening of the carnival, the President for Honiara People with Disability Sports Carnival, Cyrene Aonima, thanked those who gathered to support people with disability at their carnival.
"This is another milestone in our country's sporting history, being able to host the first ever carnival for people with disability in the Solomon Islands," Ms. Aonima said.
She stated that the four objectives of the carnival are: to enable disable people to participate in things which they normally do not have access to, bring together those with disabilities, raise awareness to general public on the needs for the disabled and to develop the capacity to involve and develop such sports in the future.
The Honiara City Mayor, Alfred Maetia, in his remarks, encouraged participants that it is not about win or lose but "how you play the game" that matters.
Also speaking at the disability carnival opening, representative of the Australian High Commission's Office in Honiara, Anthea Blaike said they are happy with the support given to people with disabilities.
Ms. Blaike said that the aim for Australian Sports Outreach Programme is promotion of the sport, in particular for people with disability who do not have good access to sports facilities.
"We hope that the event will increase understanding to people of Honiara about the people with disability and about their disability," she added.
The sports carnival was funded by the Australian government through the Au
stralian sports outreach programme in providing equipments for the carnival.
BULA FESTIVAL
Nadi
Since 1960, the Bula Festival has celebrated the island nation’s heritage in July with marching bands and a Miss Bula competition. The partying centered at Prince Charles and Koroivolu Parks also sees a parade of floats, vendors serving local cuisine, a dance contest and a closing procession through town.JUL 19 – 26
HIBISCUS
Suva
Fijis capital hosts the annual Hibiscus Festival, one of the largest carnivals in the South Pacific Islands, with amusement rides, a beauty pageant, and sports competitions as well as food and other festivities on the coast of Viti Levu.
SUGAR FESTIVAL
Lautoka
Each September, the week-long Sugar Festival at Lautokas Churchill Park features fair rides, parades with marching bands and floats decorated with sugar cane to celebrate the areas sugar production, culminating with the crowning of Miss Sugar at a beauty pageant.
DIWALI
Many a non-Hindu joins in on the celebrations centered around the religious Festival of Lights that honors Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. Homes across the country are aglow with lamps, candles and other light displays as traditional food and firecrackers are found at celebrations in the streets.
FIJI DAY
Fiji Day commemorates the anniversary of both Fijis cession to the United Kingdom in 1874 and attainment of independence in 1970. The week leading up to Fiji Day is called Fiji Week, a run of religious and cultural ceremonies celebrating the countrys diversity, with the biggest entertainment found in Labasa, Lautoka and Levuka.OCT 10
GLOSSARY
Firecrackers: bomb paper, small and rudimentary, that is detonated as a sign of celebration
Πυροτέχνημα
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Parade: exposure of various objects, especially of art
Παρέλαση
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Floats: object that is on the surface of the water
φλοτέρ
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Scarf dancing: dancers who use the scarf
χορεύουν με κασκόλ
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Development: operation with which it enhances a place or an object
ανάπτυξη
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http://www.solomontimes.com/news/first-ever-solomons-carnival-for-people-with-disability/1012
http://www.vagabuzz.com/fijifestivals.html
NEW ZEALAND –CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
The heart of the festival is filled with chocolate inspired creations and products. There is something to try, something to buy and plenty to see such as baked goodies and ice cream to beauty products and jewellery, all incorporating chocolate and cacao in familiar yet surprising ways, chocolate tours, chocolate decorating, chocolate painting and chocolate facials, as well as the iconic Cadbury Crunchie Train.
The carnival culminates with the famous Cadbury Jaffa Race. A kiwi favourite, Jaffas are balls of orange sugar-coated chocolate and have been made in New Zealand since 1931. As well as being home to Cadbury World, Dunedin entices visitors with its dramatic setting, fascinating heritage and proximity to incredible wildlife because the city is surrounded by hills and has ocean beaches to the east and the forest farmland of Central Otago to the west.
Chocolate makers and chocolatiers from all over New Zealand showcase their decadent chocolate gems, from traditional classics to seriously exotic combinations.
The Culinary Theatre and the Chocolatiers Studio present the art of working with chocolate demonstrated by passionate chefs and experts in an intimate and friendly atmosphere sharing the tricks of the trade, fantastic ideas and samples of their finished creations.
There are loads of entertaining and informative talks from the makers, chocolate that never stops flowing at the chocolate fountains and a chance to have a go at making your own sweet delights inside the Chocolate Factory.
Honiara – Salmons Festival
The Festival of Pacific Arts is the biggest cultural event in the Pacific held every four years since 1972. Twenty-two countries and territories in the Pacific showcased their cultures for over 3,000 visitors. Eleven traditional war canoes of Solomon Islands (Tomoko) and seven vakas (sailing canoes) from Pacific countries, which voyage across the Pacific, arrive at AE Oval Beach to join the traditional opening ceremony of the Festival. Pacific delegates welcome them with Hakas, dances and songs. Participating delegates then they present their gifts to Governor-General Sir Frank Kabul of Solomon Islands to show appreciation to the host nation.
This was followed by the grand opening ceremony held at the Lawson Tama stadium in Honiara. The contingents in colorful costumes paraded in front of dignitaries, guests, and hundreds in the audience.
Festival as a Forum for Culture held for first time in Fiji in 1972 celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. It has been coordinated by the Council
of Pacific Arts and Culture. During the 11th Festival, over 3000 visitors enjoyed the traditional music, dances and performances of the Pacific and its contemporary arts and expressions. A Film Festival held at the newly built Arts Gallery behind the National Museum attracted a large number of audiences. One of the highlights of the Festival was UNESCO who took part as a keynote speaker about cultural rights and ownership of and access to heritage, gender and sustainable development.
