From its inception in 1994 as Folklorika, the annual festival run by Wollongong City Council has morphed into different shapes and sizes at different times of the year.

Folklorika was a small festival showcasing song, art, crafts and dance of different cultures and officially mutated into Viva La Gong at the turn of the millennium – an expanded event thanks to council’s first cultural plan for the city.

The event has had its ups and downs over time. In 2006 it was shelved altogether when organisers decided to reassess the community festival’s importance, though reinstated its fixture to the cultural sphere in 2007.

The current format has been compressed into a nine-hour event for Saturday November 10, with multiple stages, tents and activities scattered around MacCabe Park.

It has retained its twilight activities after the start time was pushed back so to not clash with Remembrance Day services last year.

Megan McKell remembers attending her first Viva around two decades ago with her then primary-aged children.

“I remember one of mine one year had to – she was in a performance – and had to come out of the sea, it was so beautiful,” she giggled.

“Viva’s always held really beautiful memories because it was the occasion you could actually see some amazing performers you’d never see then realise they actually live here.”

Many years later and Ms McKell is now the woman responsible for booking the artists and musicians as part of her role as Cultural Development Co-ordinator for council.

For 2018 she has managed to secure “gush pop” artist Bec Sandridge, originally from Stanwell Park.

The singer-songwriter is now based in Melbourne and most recently known for her appearance on the ABC’s Q and A program in July, where she performed a cover of John Farnham’s You’re The Voice.

“She’s played at Viva before, I think it was in 2014 on the community stage, but she was an emerging musician then,” Ms McKell said. “She was really happy to play here again.”

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Notable performers to previous grace the stages of the festival include Christine Anu, Gang of Youths, Yung Warriors, Jimmy Little, the Australian Chamber Ochestra led by Richard Tognetti, Tim Freedman (of The Whitlams), Lior, and even ABC Illawarra drive announcer Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall was touted as one of the headline acts in 2012.

Ms McKell said it could sometimes be difficult in securing different talent though at other times artists go out of their way to make it possible, like rapper Nooky.

Originally from Nowra but now based in Sydney, the wordsmith was  “really keen to play a local gig”.

“It makes you feel that it’s all worthwhile that people do appreciate Viva La Gong ... where Wollongong can show the amazing talents people have,” Ms McKell said.

“It is the one opportunity where our whole community can showcase their skills.”

Over the years the Viva has seen street parades, theatre, multi-cultural performances, art exhibitions by adults and children, promoting healthy lifestyle and environment, workshops, magicians, fashion, choirs, dancers, sporting stars, giant puppets and giant art installations.

Next week a giant loom will be constructed over three days in preparation for the festival. The weaving tool needing public participation to create a community artwork.

“At least one community cultural development project so working with comm who haven’t had access to the festival but to link them in somehow so they feel it’s theirs,” Ms McKell said.

“Over the years we’ve done a number of textile projects, like one year we made some artworks [with Vision Australia] that were were tactile and they were on display so people could touch as well as see.”

The reason for the different offerings and incarnations over the decades has been to keep the festival up to date with what the community wants, Sue Savage said.

The Community and Cultural Development Manager with Wollongong City Council has been working with the event for around 18 years.

“My first memory is probably really early on when the [Rugby Union] World Cup was on and we adjusted Viva’s times and what we did to support [that],” the Doctor of Philosophy said.

That was in 2003 where the festival ran for 12 days, with activities interspersed between rugby events as Wollongong was hosting two clashes – Canada versus Tonga and the United States versus France.

“We’ve moved to Stuart Park, we’ve had it in venues across the city,” Dr Savage said. 

“But it’s probably been the last five or six years we’ve focused on MacCabe Park as an under-utilised space and have come up with the one-day format which is pretty intense but offers the community a lot all on one day.”

Her greatest joy is people watching and seeing people’s reactions to the diverse offering of entertainment.

“I look and see so many visitors that come regularly, then there are the visitors who are out from Copenhagen for the week and say how great it is,” Dr Savage said. 

“I love the mix of the young to the old, the able bodies, people with disabilities, everyone coming to the one spot and enjoying it.”

A musical parade from the Wollongong Conservatorium through the streets to MacCabe Park at 6pm.

Viva Film celebrates a selection of short films – each with strong Illawarra links either via the content of people who have produced the work.

The program will be split into two viewings – family friendly films from 2:30pm to 4pm and slightly more adult content from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The program has a mix of drama, documentaries, music videos, children’s content and a “good balance of serious and not-so-serious”, according to curator Angie Cass.

Circus and cabaret throughout the day under the La Petite Grande tent.

Erth Dinosaur Zoo and their giant prehistoric puppets parading around the Main Stage at 12:35pm and 3:30pm.

Dedicated stages to folk music, and another to artists from the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Art and design workshops including Mandala drawing, craft, zine making, poetry, Persian calligraphy, origami, lantern making and ceramics.

Food stall and artisan markets.

For more information visit: www.vivalagongfestival.org