The 8th annual Kurilpa Derby on October 25 marks the opening of the 2015 West End Festival, a week of special cultural and community events in West End that revive the spirit of the original Boundary Street Festival.
Festivalgoers can enjoy the Kurilpa Derby – the opening street party – as well as a week of events across film, live music, theatre, politics and visual art. The Festival program will close with Fiesta Latina on October 31, a street party and cultural festival organised by the Latin community.
Festival Director Sarah Gall said this year’s festival program explored themes of public space, local retail and ideas and hope for the future.
“The rapidly changing form of our suburb makes this year’s event more important than ever. The changing context of West End means that community events which celebrate and promote our shared identity and values are vital.”
The event, volunteer-run and hosted by the West End Community Association, draws on a long history of community-organised festivals in the suburb, particularly the Boundary Street Festival (1986 – 2004), The Kurilpa Derby (2007 – present) and the West End Block Party (2011-2013).
Sarah said the free community festival was about celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of 4101.
She said: “It’s important for us to celebrate and promote our community by showcasing its artists, organisations and businesses and be really proud of our culture of inclusiveness, diversity and respect.
“Congratulations to all the festival volunteers (yes, volunteers!) who have made this program possible and of course to all the artists and organisations who will be a part of the event on the day.”
The Festival Hub will be in “People’s Park” in Boundary Street, West End. There you will also be able to find festival programs and other information.
For more information you can visit www.westendfestival.com.au
The full program will be available online on Tuesday October 20.
