North Geelong adds colour to record breaking Pako Fest
Author: Tonci PRUSAC Courtesy: http://newgeneration.croatianherald.com/Home.aspx
As is the case every year, Geelong’s Croatian community came out in force and injected its own unique brand of colour and vibrancy to the ever popular Pako Festa last Saturday.
According to event organisers from the city’s multicultural social services provider Diversitat, despite a gloomy weather forecast and dark clouds which threatened all day to spoil the festivities, this year’s event attracted a record breaking attendance in excess of 100,000 people.
The annual multicultural celebration has become an institution in Geelong, with the majority of the cosmopolitan inner suburban Pakington Street closed to traffic from early morning to late evening.
Each year, Geelong’s immensely popular Croatian folkloric group ”LADO” contributes to the rich array of Pako Festa activities by taking part in the street parade, performing on one of the several concert stages and holding a stall of traditional Croatian cuisine.
This year was no exception. They were, however, joined by the large number of young wannabe Vidukas and Skokos – i.e. the ever growing number of junior soccer players of Croatian descent from the North Geelong Warriors (Croatia Geelong) Soccer Club.
Looking resplendent in their red-white-blue outfits, the young soccer players provided a colourful accompaniment to the equally colourful young ”LADO” dancers and musicians.
What was even more heartwarming to see, was the fact the vast majority of these young kids taking part in the cultural kaleidoscope that is the Pako Festa street parade, are third generation Australian Croatians.
As their parents and grandparents watched proudly from the sidelines, these proud and passionate young Aussie-Croats provided hope for the future of our great community, as they enthusiastically waved Croatian flags, sang Croatian songs and wore their tiny red-white-blue hearts on their sleeves. What’s more, they were absolutely wonderful ambassadors for the Croatian community in Australia and the rich Croatian culture in general.
To all, who were involved in last weekend’s Pako Festa in Geelong, a huge congratulations!
