CELEBRATE DIVERSITY THROUGH FOOD, MUSIC AND DANCE
This year, The Levee, Central Maitland will transform into a global village on Saturday 11 October from 2pm – 9pm, where you can see, taste, feel and experience up to 50 different cultures from around the world.
Collect your Riverlights Cultural Passport on the day and explore your way through The Levee’s global village. Stop by the World Stage, Language Lounge, Groove Fusion Stage and the Global Kitchen to experience a trip around the world right here in Maitland.
Don’t miss the Riverlights Finale on the riverbank. From 8pm, the multi-layered finale will consist of a dazzling procession of luminous puppets, a lantern river flotilla, and captivating music, dance and lighting displays.
Maitland Riverlights is made possible thanks to the generous support of the NSW Government through Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Major Festival Local Council Grant and Destination NSW through the Regional Flagship Event Fund.
We are pleased to announce presenting partner The Mutual Bank for their support in Riverlights 2025.
WEEK OF RIVERLIGHTS
The region’s biggest cultural festival will return with a vibrant week-long school holiday program running from Tuesday 7 October to Friday 10 October.
We invite locals and visitors alike to experience, learn from and connect with different cultures in a fun and inclusive environment.
The program will feature an exciting array of cultural workshops, live performance and interactive activities held across various locations throughout the city of Maitland.
Check out the program below.
WEEK OF RIVERLIGHTS - SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
CULTURAL VILLAGES
Riverlights Cultural Villages are the heart of the festival. Representing up to 50 different nations and cultures, the Cultural Villages offer free interactive experiences, delicious food samplings and arts and crafts to purchase.
Visit each one to taste traditional food and learn more about the culture.
Be sure to collect a stamp in your official Riverlights Cultural Passport, which will be available from the festival volunteers at the event or for download on the website closer to the event.
STAMP YOUR PASSPORT
Learn about cultural traditions, language, art, cuisine, games and more importantly, each other at the Cultural Villages.
When visiting Riverlights be sure to visit each one and collect a stamp in your official Riverlights Cultural Passport.
RIVERLIGHTS EATERY
Located in Dransfield Lane and Bulwer Street, the Riverlights Eatery is a dedicated food area featuring your favourite local and regional food trucks and stalls serving up a range of delicious food inspired from around the world.
DISCOVER YOUR NEW FAVOURITE DISH
Wander through the Riverlights Eatery and experience the delicious range of cuisines available.
EXPLORE THE EVENT
RIVERLIGHTS STAGE
Be captivated by a range of local and national bands with a range of performances influenced from across the globe.
WORLD STAGE
Filled with vibrant and colourful cultural song and dance performances, a cultural fashion parade as well as the Citizenship Ceremony and Official Ceremony.
CULTURAL VILLAGES
Learn about cultural traditions, language, art, cuisine, games and more importantly, one another.
EXPRESS YOURSELF LANGUAGE LOUNGE
A crowd favourite at Maitland Riverlights, come along and learn songs to sing, common words and greetings, hear stories read in different languages as well as poetry.
SOUND GARDEN INSTALLATION
Walk through an interactive cultural ‘garden’ experience, connecting to the sounds, patterns and colours of our local multicultural communities.
WONDERWORLD
Stop by this interactive art installation and photobooth located inside a shipping container to grab the perfect background for your pictures.
2024 AMBASSADOR
ADAM LIAW
Experience Riverlights with Adam Liaw as he joins us as the Maitland Riverlights Ambassador for 2024. Adam will be hosting a sold out ticketed dinner on Friday 11 October and will be popping up around the event on Saturday 12 October. See where you can catch him below.
RIVERLIGHTS FINALE
The multi layered finale will bring together the community lantern parade from The Levee Shared Zone, lantern river flotilla, music and dance on the Riverlights Stage, with a dynamic lighting show. Join in the fun from 8.00pm on the riverbank, this finale is not one to be missed.
MUST SEE ON SATURDAY
RIVERLIGHTS
EVENT MAP
Find your way around Maitland Riverlights this weekend with a copy of the event map.