The weather is glorious, the oranges are sweet, and the countdown is on for the 2018 Regional Australia Bank, Bingara Orange Festival.
This year’s event will have festival goers dancing in the street as it takes on a “Happy Days” theme, celebrating the nostalgia and music of the 50’s and 60’s.
The Orange Festival weekend of events commences on Friday 6th July at 12pm, with the annual Orange Picking Ceremony on Finch Street in front of the Bingara RSL club. The trees have produced a bumper crop of fruit this year which is sure to meet the approval of even the most discerning orange connoisseur.
The ‘Orange Police’ (aka Bingara Central School students) have done a fantastic job of keeping the oranges safe and secure for the picking, and have recently placed signs on each of the trees informing visitors of the sacred Orange Picking tradition.
On Friday night the fun and frivolity kicks off with a special screening of ‘Hairspray’ at the Roxy Theatre, with all funds raised going towards the 2019 festival. The fundraiser will be a night the whole family can enjoy with 50s fun for everyone!
The Roxy café next door will be serving retro diner classics such as milkshakes and hotdogs and participants are encouraged to sing and dance along during this nostalgic film classic. For those who really want to get into the spirit of the evening there will be prizes for the best dressed, so don your leather jackets, poodle skirts or jeans with turned up cuffs.
On Saturday the retro fun continues with vintage car and fashion displays, a quilt show, screenings of 50’s and 60’s documentaries and TV shows in the historic Roxy Theatre, Rock n Roll music to get your toes tapping with performances by ‘Darlin and The Midnight Delights’, Shelley Minson and Band and the fabulous Miss Ilona Harker, as well as kids’ rides and entertainment, and rock n roll dance demonstrations.
For those with a will of stone and a stomach of steel, don’t miss the Orange Festival Hot Dog eating competition. There are three age categories: Weiner Dogs for those aged 8-11yrs, Saveloys for the 12- 16yrs and The Big Dogs for those aged 17-97yrs. The competition kicks off at 12.00pm on the main stage. The contestant to devour their hot dog in the fastest time will be crowned the winner.
Following the festival, the Bingara Sporting Club will be hosting a family friendly retro bowls and disco night which will commence at 4.30pm.
It is sure to be a great weekend in Bingara so ring your friends, ring your family, and make sure they make it to Bingara for the Regional Australia Bank, Bingara Orange Festival weekend. For more information please contact Georgia Standerwick on 0409 901 540 or (02) 6724 0066
