It all began back in 2007 with a candlelit march in support of refugees and asylum seekers. Flash forward 17 years and LUMINOUS Lantern Parade has become a mainstay event of the Brisbane cultural calendar, with more than 17, 000 people marching in last year’s parade. The night is set aglow with joyous procession of people carrying handmade lanterns in an incredible array of shapes from shining suns and stars to glowing giraffes and koalas.

This year Multicultural Australia is combining the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade with its MOSAIC Multicultural Festival to create the largest multicultural event in Queensland’s history. Queensland Multicultural Month invites new Queenslanders, including migrants, refugees, international students and people seeking asylum, and old Queenslanders who want to show them a warm welcome to come together in celebration of the differences between us that make the world a more interesting place. 

From 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday August 3 at the South Bank Parklands, LUMINOUS Festival will be celebrating the diversity of our local community, sharing cultures and traditions, and making meaningful connections with food, craft and other stalls as well as an incredible line-up of talented entertainers and performances. To stay updated or get involved, head to Multicultural Australia’s website.