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Nesian Celebration

Story: Redcliffe Guide
Published On : Apr 25, 2018
Nesian Celebration
A festival celebrating and bringing together Polynesians, Melanesians, Micronesians, Australia's First Nations and South Sea Islanders is coming to the Redcliffe Peninsula this month.

Festival of Nesian Nations will fill Pelican Park, Clontarf, on the Labour Day public holiday with a focus on sharing Nesian language, culture and education. With origins back to 2008, this year's event is being organised by local community group Pasifika Families Inc, attracting more than 10,000 people to a day packed with entertainment for the whole family.

One of the festival coordinators, Setu Finau says everyone is welcome to join in the Nesian cultural celebrations with a main stage, Children's Village for under 12s and Pineapple Time for the youth.

We want to invite people to come along and see how important our heritage is to us,'' Setu says.

We are celebrating all the different islands and all the different Nesian nations that we have in the Pacific Ocean.''

Highlights on the main stage include comedian Aunty Tala, kindy show with Jay Laga'aia and Jaedyn Randell as Maori Moana.

For the first time, this year's festival will offer a special space for teens called Pineapple Time.

We've got Redcliffe and Scarborough outrigging coming to take the kids out on the water. Canoeing is a big part of our heritage,'' he says.

Pineapple Time will also feature Maori martial arts demonstrations, cultural games and a focus on healthy eating and wellbeing.

For the younger children, the Children's Village will have jumping castles, kite making and flying, weaving and more.

The day kicks off with a Rotuman performance as an opening ceremony at 8.30am. Elders from all the local Nesian communities have been invited along as VIPs.

The festival will also include a huge range of traditional food stalls and Nesian arts and crafts.

Come along for a fun day with lots [to] do for the children, young people and adults,'' Setu says.

The festival runs 8.30am-4pm on Monday, May 7. Entry for adults is by gold coin.

Parking around Pelican Park is limited, so free parking is available at the Redcliffe Showgrounds and a shuttle bus will run to the festival in Clontarf between 7am and 5pm.

If you are interested in holding a stall at the festival email nesiannations@gmail.com.

For more information follow the Nesian Nations on Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram, or visit nesiannations.com.