1979 - present

One of Bondi’s most anticipated summer events is the vibrant beachside celebration of Latin multiculturalism. Each year, Australia’s longest running Latin-American Festival transforms the Bondi Pavilion into a South American extravaganza, showcasing food, music, art, crafts, dance, and culture.

The iconic celebration started in 1979 when artist John McDonald wanted to exhibit his photos from a recent trip to South America … and the rest is history. The 2016 Census revealed that almost 40% of Waverley residents were born overseas, with the largest non-English-speaking country of birth being Brazil. Waverley has the third largest population born in Brazil of any LGA in NSW, and the combined Latin American language groups of Spanish and Portuguese have become the second most frequent spoken at home in Waverley after English, a cultural heritage we are very proud of.

The festival, which is scheduled at the end of summer to coincide with the Rio Carnival each year, traditionally starts with an extravagant parade along the beachside promenade, and into the Bondi Pavilion as the festival doors open with sound and colour to all the festival goers.

The event attracts enthusiastic revellers of all demographics, including multi generational family groups from across Sydney, interstate, and offshore. The Bondi Pavilion's well designed layout transforms into multiple distinct entertainment arena's, featuring the best of Sydneys Latin influenced As live bands, DJs, dance lessons, folkloric performances, market stalls, food and beverage, and dedicated childrens cultural activities. Rhythms including salsa, chachacha, merengue, samba, reggaeton, baile funk, or tango, and bachata generate an infectious wish to emulate the many gifted Latino dancers amongst the crowds.

At the sizzling street market style food stalls, mouth-watering gastronomy from different countries makes choice difficult, while freezing-cold piña coladas, caipirinhas and other exotic drinks help quench the thirst built up on the dance floor. Adults and children alike flock to activities including costume-making and stalls displaying arts and crafts.

Colourful and engaging folkloric performances showcase the cultural diversity of South America, including the pre-Columbian native inhabitants, Africans and Chinese brought in as labour by the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors and successive waves of immigrants. Their contributions have resulted into a rich ethnic, linguistic and cultural melting pot.

We'll see you soon at this amazing fiesta that is not to be missed!

Courtesy of the Latin American Festival and the Waverley Library Local Studies Collection.