THE TEEMING crowds in Civic were a big, bright mix of people from all walks of life and many different backgrounds at yesterday's National Multicultural Festival.
Saris rubbed shoulders with hijabs and a host of national costumes from around the world in an outward show of cultural pride.
Crowd estimates for Friday night and Saturday were about 260,000, and there is still one more day of celebration to go. Last year's festival attracted about 240,000 people. Saudi Arabian mother of five Zainab Alnakhli, of Dickson, enjoyed yesterday's festivities with her children Zahra, Hawra, Ali, Naba and Maryam Abuayfah.
Zainab said, ''I don't have time to see all the cities of the world, so thank you Canberra for bringing the world here.''
Diane York, of Wamboin, wore a traditional costume associated with her Slovakian husband Jan Suchovsky's background. She was at the festival to sell potato pancakes and Czech beer.
''It's nice to learn other languages and good to meet people of another culture,'' she said.
Daffodil Zhang, 2, of Ngunnawal, was resplendent in a fancy Qing Dynasty-style costume. At the festival with her grandmother, Hong Chen, they were promoting a Chinese performing arts show.
A swagman, Swaggy Campbell, who is part Maori, Aboriginal and Scottish, played the role of a bushman busker.
''I keep the spirit of Waltzing Matilda alive,'' he said.
Waramanga couple Nina and Nabil Adhami, of Lebanon, had brought along their 16-month-old boy, Karim, costumed in a traditional outfit and red velvet fez.
They liked to keep their son in touch with his roots.
Nina said, ''We love Australia, but it's good for [Karim] to know he has another background and culture.''
Nabil said multiculturalism in Canberra was worth celebrating because ''not many places in the world have such a hybrid of cultures. It's awesome.''
The National Multicultural Festival continues today in Civic.
A full program can be found at www.multiculturalfestival.com.au
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