Cabramatta Moon Festival celebrated in style

More than 90,000 people packed Cabramatta’s Freedom Plaza and surrounds to celebrate the traditional harvest festival as well as the amazing colour and spirit of Australia’s largest South East Asian community.

Festivities were officially opened by Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian and Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone.

“Today’s festival is about people, it’s about heritage, it’s about tradition, it’s about where people come from and how people have used that tradition and that heritage to build this City and this nation,” Mayor Carbone said.

“We are so fortunate to have so many people from across the globe who have settled here over such a long period of time.

“The first migrant that came here to this City, John Williams in the late 1800s who was given a piece of land at Fairfield Showground, he brought his traditions just like you have.

“We all understand how important heritage is. That is what our nation is all about. It’s about learning from people that came from overseas and using that and working together to bring a benefit to our community.”

Ms Berejiklian said the Moon Festival not only brings families and friends together, but celebrates the importance of cultural heritage.

“I know that every day Cabramatta is important, but today Cabramatta is the centre of NSW and the centre of Australia,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Millions and millions of people around the world celebrate the coming of the Moon Festival, where the daylight and the night time is equal, where the moon is at is brightest. But for us it is when Cabramatta is at its brightest, when the people of NSW come together to celebrate one of the best parts of our state.”

Visitors flocked to the traditional lion dance and children’s lantern parades, the food stalls – including the new District 8 dining precinct, and the ever-popular prawn peeling, noodle and moon cake eating and children’s chopstick challenges.

There were also carnival games and rides, community demonstrations, market stalls and cultural performances throughout the day.

SBS Pop Asia host Andy Trieu and K-Pop star Kevin Kim had the evening crowd enthralled, ushering in powerhouse performances from Harmony, DanceKool featuring Niramsin, and Australia’s Got Talent grand finalists Lil Kookies with Kookies N Kream, before the spectacular 8pm fireworks finale.

Fairfield City Council thanks the generous Festival sponsors and partners whose support helped make the day possible: Mekong Mounties Group, Blue Star Air Conditioning, Cabra-Vale Diggers and District8, Ettason, Australian Chinese Buddhist Society, BKK Shopping Centre, Bupa Australia, Cabra Bowls, Cabramatta Hotel, Cabramatta Flower Spot, Central Equity, Commonwealth Bank Cabramatta, High Connect - Telstra T-Partner, Loving Hut Cabramatta, MatchWorks, Medibank, Optus Prepaid Services, Remedy Kombucha, Teabags T-Shop, Western Sydney Airport, Western Union, 7News, 2AC Chinese Radio, Dan Viet Newspaper, SBS Radio, TVB Anywhere, and Vision China Times.

Fairfield City Council also thanks Fairfield City Police Area Command, NSW Fire and Rescue, St Johns Ambulance, NSW Ambulance and the entire Cabramatta community for their support and involvement.

The food competition winners were:

Session 1.30pm

Moon cake eating:             Brendan Tran, Prairiewood ​Noodle soup eating:          Trieu Huy Nham Prawn Peeling:                   Raymond Duong, Cabramatta Children's chopstick:        Brandon K Tran, Cabramatta

Session 4pm

Moon cake eating:              Yuan Teck Yeap, Glenmore Park ​Noodle soup eating:           Yuan Teck Yeap, Glenmore Park Prawn peeling:                    Hung Dang Lai, Bonnyrigg Children's chopstick:         Kyra Smithard, Fairfield East