Food Ideas for Harmony Day & Cultural Day

Celebrate Harmony Day with Community & Fundraising!

Harmony Day is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of belonging, diversity, and inclusion. It’s a time to bring people together, honour different cultures, and create meaningful connections. And what better way to do that than by fundraising while celebrating what makes our communities unique?

Food, art, music, and traditions are all powerful ways to unite people. Whether you're part of a school, a local club, or a community group, here are some fun and inclusive ideas that embrace our multicultural heritage and can be community builders as well as fundraisers.

Host a Cultural Food Fair: A tasty way to fundraise or just come together as a community!

Nothing brings people together like food! A Multicultural Food Fair is an easy and delicious way to celebrate diversity. Families and community members can cook traditional dishes from their heritage, and you can choose to make this a coming together as a community or sell tasting plates or full meals at your event as a fundraiser.

Need inspiration? Check out these tasty ideas from around the world:

Europe

🇮🇹 Italy – Pasta dishes like lasagna or carbonara, plus tiramisu!
🇫🇷 France – Croissants, quiche, and sweet macarons.
🇬🇷 Greece – Spanakopita (spinach and feta pastry) and souvlaki skewers.
🇩🇪 Germany – Bratwurst sausages and soft pretzels with mustard.

North, Central & South America

🇲🇽 Mexico – Tacos, churros, and refreshing agua frescas.
🇧🇷 Brazil – Pão de queijo (cheese bread) and brigadeiro (chocolate truffles).
🇨🇦 Canada – Poutine (chips, cheese curds, and gravy) and butter tarts.
🇺🇸 USA – Classic apple pie and fluffy pancakes with maple syrup.

Africa

🇪🇹 Ethiopia – Injera (sourdough flatbread) with spiced lentils.
🇲🇦 Morocco – Couscous with slow-cooked tagine.
🇿🇦 South Africa – Bobotie (spiced meat bake) and koeksisters (syrupy doughnuts).
🇳🇬 Nigeria – Jollof rice, a spicy and flavourful dish loved across West Africa.

Asia

🇨🇳 China – Dumplings, spring rolls, and bubble tea.
🇮🇳 India – Samosas, butter chicken, and mango lassi.
🇯🇵 Japan – Sushi, teriyaki skewers, and mochi sweets.
🇻🇳 Vietnam – Bánh mì (crispy baguette sandwiches) and pho (noodle soup).

Oceania

🇦🇺 Australia – Lamingtons, meat pies, and ANZAC biscuits.
🇳🇿 New Zealand – Pavlova and hokey pokey ice cream.
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea – Mumu (earth oven-roasted meat and vegetables).

Encourage families to bring along recipes, cultural stories, or traditional dress to make the event more interactive and meaningful.

More Fun Ideas for Harmony Day - as a community event or fundraiser!

💡 Multicultural Art Auction – Get the kids involved by creating artwork inspired by different cultures and frame their masterpieces. This could be held in conjunction with  the Food Fair. As a fundraiser: hold a silent auction to raise funds.

💡 Orange for Inclusion – Orange is the official colour of Harmony Day! Sell orange-themed items like wristbands, scrunchies, or ribbons to show support while raising money.

💡 Harmony Day Disco – Organise a school or community disco featuring global music! As a fundraiser: Charge a gold coin entry, set up a snack stall, and encourage traditional dress.

💡 International Games Day – Set up activity stations featuring traditional games from different countries—think bocce (Italy), sepak takraw (Malaysia), or cornhole (USA). As a fundrasier: Charge an entry fee or run a gold-coin donation competition.

💡 Cultural Storytime – Invite community members to share folktales or personal migration stories with kids. As a fundraiser: Sell themed bookmarks, tea, or snacks as a fundraiser.

Everyone Belongs: Let’s Celebrate Together!

Harmony Day is all about embracing differences and celebrating what unites us. Whether it’s through food, music, or shared experiences, there’s no better way to bring your school or community together. Plus, with a little creativity, you can turn this celebration into a meaningful fundraising event!