Let the Indonesian festivities begin

Festival Indonesia Inc. and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne are coming together again for a two-day only festival to celebrate all things Indonesian: culture, tourism and trade.

Festival Indonesia had been an ongoing annual festival and collaborative program between the organisation and consulate since 2005, but it came to a halt in 2012.

Now, after a 10-year hiatus, Festival Indonesia is relaunching this year with its ninth edition in Melbourne to promote Indonesian Investment, Trade and Tourism (ITT).

In a recent press release announcement, the Festival Indonesia team said it felt it was time for the festival to come back to Melbourne after the pandemic put a halt to many festivities.

“It is time to relaunch Festival Indonesia towards the Australian public, to remind it about the beauty and extraordinariness of Indonesia and encourage it to visit and do business with their closest neighbour,” the Festival Indonesia team said.

Starting on September 30 and wrapping up on October 2, Festival Indonesia will have two events spread out between Carlton and the CBD.

The festival will kick off with the ticketed event Echo of the Archipelago Indonesian Night in the Arthur Streeton Auditorium at Sofitel Melbourne from 7pm.

Festival Indonesia will then take to Argyle Square in Carlton from 10am on the Sunday for its major event of an outdoor festival with stalls of food and trade, and stage performances to showcase Indonesian culture.

This final day will also see Festival Indonesia attempt to create the biggest Maumere Dance flash mob in Australia, through involving as many participants as possible in the popular Indonesian line dance. •

For more information: festivalindonesia.com.au