The weather is glorious, the oranges are sweet, and the countdown is on for the 2017 Regional Australia Bank Bingara Orange Festival.
This year’s event will have festival goers dancing in the street as the event 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 30th June at 12pm, with the annual Orange Picking Ceremony on Finch Street, in front of the Bingara RSL club. The trees this year 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 THE BEAT: Anabella Ricardo and Jed Langan are two of the more intimidating Orange Police from Bingara Central School who keep the oranges safe for Orange Picking Day.
On Friday night the fun and frivolity kicks off with a special screening of ‘Grease’ at the Roxy Theatre, with all funds raised going towards maintenance of the Bingara Fitness Centre.
The fundraiser will be a night the whole family can enjoy with 50s fun for everyone! Participants are encouraged to sing and dance along during this nostalgic film classic, and enjoy drive-in movie treats.
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. Doors open at 6pm with movie and meal deals available.
On Saturday the retro fun continues with vintage car and fashion displays, screenings of Happy Days in the historic Roxy Theatre, Rock n Roll music to get your toes tapping with performances by ‘Darlin and The Midnight Delights’, the Moree District 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 11.45am on the main stage. The contestant to devour their hot dog in the fastest time will be crowned the winner.
Also in town on Saturday will be three codes of football with Junior League kicking off at 10am, Senior League at 2.30pm with the Bingara Bullets going head to head with Bundarra and the Gwydir River Rats against the Armidale Blues at 4.15pm. For those festival goes who don’t want the party to stop there will be live entertainment at the Sportsman’s Hotel and the Bingara Sporting Club on Saturday evening.
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 6724 0066.
