A LAMB korma, pad Thai, dim sims and a good old-fashioned meat pie.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Such was the diversity of culture and cuisine on offer at Carnivale Wodonga Spice on Saturday night that the Wassink family shared that worldly feast among the four of them, all while watching traditional Congolese dancers on one of three stages in High and Stanley streets.
Joanne Wassink said she visited Carnivale each year with her husband and two sons, aged eight and 10.
“Everyone loves it; it’s relaxing and it’s free entertainment,” the Wodonga woman said.
Among those putting on a show for the 18,000-strong crowd were stilt walkers Belinda Dixon and Lotte Riddle.
The Melbourne performers, who were dressed as sun gods for the occasion, towered above the crowds on 1m stilts.
The pair were dancers before they got into stilt walking and said the art never failed to impress the youngsters.
“It’s quite majestic for the kids,” Ms Dixon said.
“They’re not familiar with it and they can’t quite work out why we don’t have any feet.”
Closer to ground, with the weekend’s rain temporarily lifted, Norris Park siblings Adelia and Timothy Manibod cooled off from the spicy atmosphere by drenching themselves in the water fountain at the corner of High and Stanley streets.
“I just thought it’d be nice for the family to come out; it seemed like good fun,” mother Noi Manibod said of Carnivale.
“We weren’t planning on the kids getting wet but once they started, they just wouldn’t stop.
“It’s going to be interesting because they don’t have a change of clothes.”
Those in drier attire included teenagers Maria Daroit, Kayle Montgomery and Hanessa Blanzais, who took part in the community parades, and Livid Productions’ Jason Dowell, Colm Cox and Paul Hardbottle, whose colourful costumes drew the eye of those queueing for dessert outside the Daily Scoop.
Event organiser Chelsea McLaren said the rest of the weekend’s Carnivale events had also been successful, with more than 1200 people turning out for the market day on Saturday, more than 100 at Lounging on High on Friday night and more than 2600 taking part in the public arts events of Todos Arte.
Last night’s Carnivale Recovery was moved to the Wodonga Civic Centre because of the wet weather.
