Thousands of people converged on the main street on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the city’s growing diversity.

Attendees were treated to dishes from all around the world, including Lebanon, Nepal, Botswana, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

The sampling of all the delicious cuisines played out against a backdrop of vibrant international music and dance performances.

Multicultural Tamworth’s Eddie Witham said the event’s success exceeded even the organisers’ wildest expectations.

It is estimated that up to 4000 people turned out for the event and Mr Witham said he was confident it could find a permanent place on the social calendar.

“It was an amazing event,” he said. “People were connecting with people and they just kept walking past me all day saying ‘thank you’.

“Tamworth is a cosmopolitan town now and it was marvellous and can only get better from here.”

Tamworth mum Shauna Dewhurst said she and her family were swept up in the “carnival atmosphere” of the day.

“I took my two children thinking I’d be an hour or so and stayed for five (hours), loved it!” she said on The Leader’s Facebook page.

Fellow Tamworth local Cheryl Butler described the event as having an important role to play in combating racism and bigotry.

“Congratulations to the organisers and the participants,” she said. “It was so good to see people ... of all races and cultures, joining together and sharing.”

Anne Jacob said she was already looking forward to next year.