18 countries in one day

Gatton Shire Hall transformed into an international hub of activities as more than 18 countries were represented at the Lockyer Multicultural Festival.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said residents and visitors fully-embraced the festival, held at the weekend as a Harmony Day celebration.

With well over 1000 people attending the event, Gatton Shire Hall was buzzing with excitement and filled with delicious aromas from the food stalls, Cr Milligan said.

There were numerous performances held throughout the day, with Indian dancers and Egyptian belly dance proving to be exceptional crowd-pleasers.

The festival featured almost 40 stalls and cuisines from countries like Solomon Islands, India, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Australia, and Sudan.

The children especially enjoyed the face painting, jumping castle, toys and games from a variety of countries, and balloon creations, Cr Milligan said.

It was wonderful to see so many participate in this special day that celebrated cultural diversity and promoted cohesion in our beautiful region.