What began as a small community gathering has grown into one of Selwyn’s biggest multicultural celebrations, with CultureFest preparing to mark its 10th year in Lincoln this month.
What began as a small community gathering has grown into one of Selwyn’s biggest multicultural celebrations, with CultureFest preparing to mark its 10th year in Lincoln this month.
Selwyn, 7 September 2026: CultureFest will return to the Lincoln Event Centre on Sunday, 13 September, bringing together food, performances, traditions and activities representing more than 30 cultures from around the world.
The annual festival now attracts more than 5,000 people each year, a major change from its early days when it featured only a small number of performers, cultural displays and a shared morning tea.
One of the festival’s founders, Archna Tandon, who is also Chair of the Multicultural Women’s Council, says the event has grown alongside Selwyn itself.
“It’s evolved big time. It’s on Selwyn’s calendar and people know about it. It’s grown with the population of Selwyn and the diversity within Selwyn. It started off small, but it has evolved into what we always wanted it to be.”
Selwyn itself is becoming more diverse
The growth of CultureFest reflects significant demographic changes across the district.
Census data cited by organisers shows the proportion of Selwyn residents born outside New Zealand increased from 19.7 percent in 2018 to 24.1 percent in 2023.
The proportion of residents born in Asia also more than doubled over the same period, rising from 3.6 percent in 2018 to 7.9 percent in 2023.
While the festival has become much larger, Tandon says its purpose has stayed the same.
“CultureFest welcomes people and gives the message that we are diverse and that all cultures are welcome. That’s what we stand for.”
She says the festival gives people an opportunity to experience different traditions, performances and food in one place.
“There aren’t many places where you can find such a variety of cultures and foods together.”
More than 30 cultures represented
This year’s festival will celebrate more than 30 cultures, including those of Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Japan, Hong Kong and Nigeria.
Visitors can expect a mixture of cultural performances, international food and family-friendly activities throughout the day.
A new Japanese arts and crafts area will also form part of this year’s programme.
Food brings cultures together
Food has become one of CultureFest’s major attractions, with vendors offering dishes and flavours from different parts of the world.
Among them will be Bo Metcalf from Bo’s Kitchen, who will serve a traditional Hong Kong dessert drink made with slow-cooked red beans, coconut milk, ice and vanilla ice cream.
Metcalf says the drink has a strong connection with Hong Kong’s traditional Bing Sutt, or ice café, culture dating back to the 1950s.
For many Hong Kong families, she says, visiting local diners for afternoon tea and enjoying treats such as French toast and ice cream red bean drinks remains a strong childhood memory.
More than 30 performers taking the stage
CultureFest will also feature more than 30 performers throughout the day.
Among the groups appearing will be MexidaNZ, a Mexican folkloric dancing and singing group.
Veronica Fregoso of MexidaNZ says the group values the opportunity to share its heritage with the wider community.
“We love to represent our culture and share a little piece of our country.”
The programme will extend beyond stage performances, with visitors also able to take part in a Variety Dance Club workshop featuring Bollywood, Latin and line dancing.
Other activities include a Filipino folktale storytelling session and beginner Japanese language classes.
From a small gathering to a major Selwyn event
CultureFest’s 10-year milestone shows how quickly Selwyn’s communities have changed.
What started as a modest gathering designed to bring different communities together now attracts thousands of people and has become a regular feature on the district’s event calendar.
Its growth also reflects a wider shift across New Zealand communities, where increasingly diverse populations are bringing different languages, foods, traditions and cultural experiences into everyday Kiwi life.
For organisers, however, the basic purpose remains unchanged: giving people a place to meet, understand one another and celebrate the cultures that now make up Selwyn.
CultureFest 2026 details
Date: Sunday, 13 September 2026
Time: 10am to 3pm
Venue: Lincoln Event Centre
Location: Lincoln, Selwyn
Highlights: More than 30 cultures, international food, more than 30 performers, cultural activities, dance workshops, storytelling and beginner Japanese classes.
Some workshops and activities require advance bookings.
Source: Selwyn CultureFest event information and community announcement dated 7 September 2026.
