Published on Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 2:54:00 PM
As the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow across Merredin’s Town Centre on Saturday 21 March 2026, the community came together to celebrate Harmony Week in a vibrant display of culture, creativity and connection.
From 4:00pm, the space quickly came alive with laughter and activity. Children immersed themselves in hands-on experiences, from Chinese paper cutting and Japanese origami, to colouring mandala bookmarks and adding bright handprints to the Harmony Hand Tree. Nearby, friendship bracelets were carefully woven, and faces transformed through traditional African face painting, each activity offering a glimpse into cultures from around the world.
By 5:00pm, the air was filled with the rich aromas of delicious food, drawing a crowd eager to sample a selection of 28 dishes representing 17 cultures. The Shire extends a sincere thank you to the dedicated cooking volunteers who generously shared their time, fsmiy recipes and cultural traditions with the community.
The evening’s entertainment brought colour and energy to the Town Centre, beginning with local children weaving through the crowd in vibrant dragon costumes as they rung hand bells. A captivating belly dancing performance followed, before a poetry reading. The crowd was then invited to experience the spirit of Māori culture, featuring poi demonstrations, the power of a traditional Haka, and beautiful waiata (songs). The evenings entertainment concluded with the belly dancer offering interactive roving performances that invited the crowd to join in. Children, in particular, embraced the opportunity to learn new dance moves and engage with the props.
As the sun set, the celebration continued with the Merredin Highland Games, where community members of all ages embraced the spirit of fun and friendly competition. The Caber Toss proved a crowd favourite, with many stepping forward to test their strength and skill.
Harmony Fest was a true celebration of Merredin’s diverse and connected community. The Shire extends its sincere thanks to event sponsors Collgar Renewables and Merredin CRC for their valued support in bringing Harmony Fest to life, as well as to the volunteers and Shire staff who assisted in the event planning, cooking and serving the food, and set up and pack down.
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