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The Victory Memorial Gardens and Civic Centre Precinct will come to life on Saturday for Fusion19, with a crowd of more than 10,000 visitors and locals expected.
Here's your insider's survival guide on parking, what's happening, what to eat, and how to make the most of the festival.
This year, Wagga's annual multicultural street festival will be headlined by Kardajala Kirridarra, Thandi Phoenix, Hot Potato Band and Big Sky Mountain.
How to get there
All-day free parking is available in the CSU Playhouse lot, located behind the Civic Centre at 8 Cross Street - it is accessible from Tarcutta Street.
Disabled parking is available on Morrow Street outside the Historic Council Chambers building.
Wagga City Council encourages people to walk, cycle or carpool to reduce the carbon footprint, and because parking may be limited.
Road closures
Roads will be closed on Baylis Street between Wollundry Lagoon and Morrow Street and Morrow Street between Baylis Street and Ivan Jack Drive.
Payment
Entry to Fusion is free. Food, drinks, and merchandise will be available to purchase.
It would be smart to bring some cash as not all food vendors will have the option to pay with card. No ATM will be available in the festival ground, and the nearest ones are located along the southern end of Baylis Street.
The world on a plate
Food lovers will be able to devour authentic and modern street-style bites from 30 countries.
Including Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, China, France, Great Britain, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Turkey, United States of America and Zimbabwe making it one of the biggest and most diverse menus on offer at the festival.
"From Afghani to Zimbabwean, this year there is a wonderland of international food options on offer in the World Food Village," Ms Summerhayes said.
"I encourage everyone to grab their picnic rug and chairs, get outside, and have fun with family and friends this weekend."
What to drink
The consumption of alcohol is prohibited along the footpaths and roadways surrounding the Victory Memorial Gardens and the Civic Centre Precinct.
However, visitors are welcome to bring alcohol to drink responsibly while sitting in the park. There is no bar service available as part of Fusion19.
No pets allowed
Due to food service and a large number of people and children that will be in attendance at Fusion Multicultural Street Festival, dogs and other pets are not permitted into the festival.
Bathrooms and amenities
Fully accessible bathroom and toilets are located at the Rest Centre on Ivan Jack Drive as well as in the Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Arcade.
You are permitted to bring prams and strollers for your children. Foldable chairs to sit on in Victory Memorial Gardens are also allowed.
What's on
Entertainment
Roving performers Empress Stiltdance, Cosmic Bubble Beings, Twilight Twins and Trash Puppets will weave their way through the mountain of picnic blankets and chairs.
You will be dancing on the streets to festival favourite DJ Fairbanks as he drops a stack of tracks from Africa, the Caribbean and South America.
PLAYSPACE
Hone your hand-eye coordination skills with totem tennis, play a round (or two) of quoits, rock a hula-hoop or tie yourself up in knots in a game of Twister. If it is a battle of the mind you are seeking, challenge friends and family to a set of giant tower blocks or giant connect 4.
Cosmic Bubble Beings
Who's that rocketing through the crowd at Fusion19? Make way for the Cosmic Bubble Blowing Beings! Little and not-so-little kids will be in awe of these twin rollerblading bubble blowers, who will be bringing 60s sci-fi vibes to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.
Twilight Twins
Meet the illuminating Twilight Twins - the moon and star combo set to bring outer space to land at Fusion19. It's set to be out of this world!
Coolbeats Drumming Circle
Hang out with Coolbeats Drumming Circle facilitators Maryanne Gray and Felix Machiridza, explore and re-create the rhythms from the global drumming traditions of Africa including Zimbabwe, Mali and Guinea.
The Trash Puppets
The Trash Puppets teach sustainability through recreating and reimagining our waste and recycling. They will be hosting rolling workshops throughout Fusion19 that are guaranteed to entertain the kids.
Reverse Garbage
Let your imagination and creativity run wild with Marrickville's Reverse Garbage reuse centre and contemporary artists Fiona Arnold and Sarah Wood. Roll up your sleeves and make your creative mark on giant community sculptures - using an eclectic range of industrial discards and quirky leftovers.
Reducing waste
Wagga City Council and major sponsor Riverina Water County Council have banded together to help reduce waste.
RWCC general manager Andrew Crakanthorp said they would be helping the community stay hydrated during the event with fresh and healthy local water at refill stations.
"By drinking tap water at Fusion, you'll help reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles, which can clog up landfill and end up as litter," he said.
Council has made Fusion19 free from single-use plastic banning plastic beverage containers, plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic cutlery, plastic containers, plastic shopping bags and balloons from the festival footprint.
Food and drink vendors can only provide biodegradable and compostable catering ware, packaging and utensils to festival-goers.
Single-use plastic water bottles will not be available for sale.
Large events also generate a large amount of waste, and we are working to reduce that through introducing biodegradable or compostable cutlery and containers as well having green-lid food organics bins at the festival," Ms Summerhayes said.
Festival Program
Check out what is on to plan and make the most of your Fusion experience.
Victory Memorial Gardens stage
- 4.00pm Zimpride Marimba Band
- 4.10pm Acholi Dancers
- 4.20pm Bolly Bhangra
- 4.30pm Riverina Nepalese Community
- 4.40pm Dinka Dance Group
- 4.50pm Euphoria Dance Crew
- 5.00pm Shinwa-Kai Karate Club of Australia Inc.
- 5.10pm Official Welcome
- 5.20pm Big Sky Mountain
- 6.15pm Hot Potato Band
- 7.30pm Thandi Phoenix
- 8.45pm Kardajala Kirridarra
Civic Forecourt Stage
- 4.00pm Wagga Filo Kids
- 4.10pm Alex Jeejo
- 4.20pm Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe
- 4.30pm La Chorale Francaise de Wagga Wagga
- 4.40pm RCM Saxophone Ensemble
- 4.50pm Coota Bollywood All Stars and All Sorts
- 5.00pm Keslang Kyab
- 5.10pm Wagga Sinhala Language School