2020’s LUMINOUS parade continues to light up our community

In observance of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, this year’s Multicultural Australia’s MOSAIC Festival has taken its community-led event online, unveiling REIMAGINE. A two-week-long virtual celebration of Queensland’s rich cultural diversity, REIMAGINE has successfully taken all of MOSAIC Festival’s events digital, hosting a fortnight of colour, culture and community connection online.

With REIMAGINE now in full swing, one event highlight for many communities across Brisbane is the annual LUMINOUS lantern parade. One of Multicultural Australia’s most anticipated community events, this year’s parade has joined REIMAGINE’s roster of events, streaming live from various locations across the city to community members who could not attend.

This year’s parade made its way through Mount Gravatt, Acacia Ridge, Moorooka, and Inala, before making its way to South Bank where the parade concluded. Families and community members were encouraged to participate, preparing beautiful homemade lanterns which lined the streets of the parade route.

Of particular highlight in this year’s parade were the giant kookaburra and koala lanterns, hand made during the height of COVID-19 lockdown by Dr Favardin Daliri, Executive Director of the Townsville Intercultural Centre. A prominent figure in the community, he was recently awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his lifetime service to the community development sector.

While 2020’s LUMINOUS Lantern Parade and REIMAGINE Festive has been different to previous years, the festival’s mission to spread joy, compassion and shared community values has remained.

“We are so proud of our ongoing partnership with Multicultural Australia and the continued work it does in bringing the wider community together,” says Catherina Behan, Suncorp Group Diversity & Inclusion Manager.