With the smell of sizzling meat, and the sounds of traditional music, the National Multicultural Festival kicked off on Friday night.
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Angelika Neutz and her partner Michael Fuller were enjoying the night in traditional German dress, which came all the way from Neutz's home in the German city of Heilbronn.
"We thought might as well," Ms Neutz said, as she enjoyed a beer. Despite the outfits, Ms Neutz and Mr Fuller were looking to try food from other cultures, saying they would probably try a pad thai. Ms Neutz said the festival was similar to markets held in Germany, which she enjoyed.
Denish Alfred and his wife Emmerancia were enjoying the festival with their son Braxton, who is three years old.
The Alfreds said they would be trying vegetarian food as they had given up meat for lent. They made a stop at the carousel first though. "[Braxton] likes the horsies," Mrs Alfred said.
There were thousands of people enjoying the evening but the festival area wasn't too crowded. Mr Alfred, who said that he has been to the festival around 17 or 18 times, said he preferred the Friday night because it was less crowded than Saturday or Sunday.
"This time is better than last time," he said, saying the crowd numbers were better.
Abdulaziz Almutawa from the Saudi Arabian stall encouraged people to come to their stall to see a model of Mecca, to try traditional Saudi sweets and for the chance to have their name written on a poster in Arabic script.
There will also be live music at the stall. The stall would "present our culture" Mr Almutawa said.
Multicultural Festival Saturday highlights
For the first time this year, the Multicultural Festival has a food ambassador. TV presenter, MasterChef Australia runner up and cookbook author Poh Ling Yeow. She is doing two cooking demonstrations on Saturday at 11am and 1.30pm on Stage 1, and reading her children's book Sweet Petite in the Children's Sanctuary at Civic Library at 3.15pm.
Celebrate the year of the dog at the Happy Chinese New Year showcase on Stage 3 from 10.30am-midnight.
Learn a few moves at the belly dance showcase, with 17 performances on Stage 4 from 11am.
