Ballow Street in Fortitude Valley will become a colourful hive of activity this weekend as the Colombian Street Festival takes up residence in the inner-city thoroughfare. The festivities will kick off at 11:00 am on Saturday July 18 and continue until late, as locals celebrate Colombian Independence Day. Sate the appetite with an array of street food, from arepas and empanadas to paella, Colombian barbecue and more, and take your pick of Colombian beverages including Aguila beer and cocktail towers.

Enter via the GPO to immerse yourself in rich Colombian culture, with live music from local Colombian bands including Los De Afuera and Chukale Y Sus Estrellas Colombianas, and plenty of Latin dancing. The year there will also be an all-new kids’ zone with face painting, cartoons on the big screen, Latin music and dancing lessons. As the sun sets, DJs will hop on the decks and the fun will continue with an official after-party at the GPO. Entry for children under the age of 12 years is free and tickets for all others can be purchased online. Keep watch on Facebook for event updates.