The countdown is on for the 2022 Regional Australia Bank, Bingara Happy Days Orange Festival. This year’s event will have festival goers dancing in the street as it again takes on the “Happy Days” theme, celebrating the nostalgia and music of the 50s and 60s.
The weekend of events commences on Friday 1st July at 12:00pm, with the annual Orange Picking Ceremony on Finch Street, in front of the Bingara RSL Club. Despite a few setbacks with pest management after a wetter than usual summer, the trees have produced a bumper crop of fruit which are 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 will kick off with a special screening of Stand By Me at the Roxy Theatre, with all funds raised going towards the 2023 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 burgers, 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 displays, screenings of 50s and 60s documentaries and TV shows in the historic Roxy Theatre.
There will be Rock ‘n’ Roll music to get your toes tapping with performances by The Zephyr Project and Memphis Mover’s, as well as kid’s rides and entertainment, and Rock ‘n’ Roll dance demonstrations.
For those with a pelvis like Elvis, don’t miss the Orange Festival hula hoop competition. There are three age categories: tiny tots 5 – 11 years, teeny boppers 12 – 16 years and the rocking bodgies 17 – 97yrs. The competition kicks off at 12:30pm on the main stage.
Following the festival, the Bingara RSL Club will be hosting a 50s and 60s Dance Hall from 7.00pm until late with legendry retro DJ Grizzly Adams, as well as dance demonstrations and instruction from the New England Rockabilly Rockers. Even if you have two left feet, Grizzly guarantees he will get you rocking.
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 Happy Days Orange Festival weekend.
For more information, please contact Georgia Standerwick on 0491 272 614. For stalls, please contact Jen Mead at the Bingara Visitor Information Centre on 6724 0066 or 0400 826 551.
