Cowra will transform from March 24 till April 2 to celebrating all things Belarusian, with the Festival’s Official Opening Ceremony being held tonight at 6pm at the Peace Bell. 

Cowra Festival of International Understanding Coordinator Kylie Wood said she hopes to gather excitement for the main weekend of activities, highlighting the arrival of the Belarusian dance group ROVESNIK ahead of the weekend.  

“The dancers are coming all the way from Belarus,” Kylie said. 

“They start their performances at the opening ceremony on Friday night.” 

The opening ceremony will also feature the St Raphael’s school choir singing both the Belarusian national anthem and the Australian national anthem. 

Kylie said another special guest will also join the proceedings along with distinguished guests such as the Hon. Michael McCormack MP. 

“The Princess of Tonga will be back to hand over the Festival Baton to this year’s guest nation, the Belarusian Ambassador, HE Viktar Shykh.” 

“A representative from the Nepalese embassy will be here as the observer nation.” 

This will be followed on the Saturday with the Festival Parade down Kendal Street at 12 noon. 

“A reminder to everyone to head down to the main street to share in the celebrations and enjoy all the hard work put in by all who put floats together,” Kylie said. 

Following the parade, the Festival Carnival will kick off at River Park at 1pm, with special performances by ROVESNIK, our very own dance schools Cowra Dance Factory and Cowra Ballet School. The Cowra and District Town Band will welcome everyone as they enter the carnival.

“Local musicians Sim Bastick and Marc McLeish will also be performing live sets, providing some festival vibes with their beautiful tunes,” Kylie said. 

“The carnival’s official program will be over by 3pm so those wishing to attend the Relay for Life can do so.

Make sure you don’t miss a minute of all that this years Festival has to offer.