Theme for Orange Festival announced

March 10, 2008

Due to a number of enquiries as to the theme for this years Orange Festival, mainly from groups starting already to consider the design of their floats , the organising committee has announced that the Festival theme will be "Music! Music! Music!"

This is a deliberate move to highlight what will be this years principal activity – a visit from the Willoughby jazz group "The Brass Boys", who will be work-shopping a set program of music with the Gwydir Schools Big Band throughout the Friday; performing a joint concert that night at the Roxy; performing on stage the next day at the Orange Festival; and again that night at a local venue.

All proceeds from the Friday night concert will go to the Schools music program.

The Brass Boys have played in Bingara before – as "Cathy and the Brass Boys", and are going from strength to strength in Sydney.

In other major news – and in keeping with the theme – the Festival will be officially opened by that popular musical maestro Bill Gleeson, from Tamworth.

And the date?
Saturday August 2 – put it in your diaries now , as it will cement itself as Bingara’s biggest day of the year. Our Orange Festival is already the source of a number of enquiries from around the region as the result of last years fantastic non-stop program.

This year will see the bar raised even higher, with the inclusion of several new initiatives. 

• A new band from Armidale

• A Food Hall in the Civic Centre run by local organisations with varied menus

• A much closer presence from the Inverell Antique Car Club, who will have their cars on display just out of Maitland Street in the eastern side of Cunningham Street.

• A Group 19 Rugby League match against Tingha at 2.30 pm at Gwydir Oval

• All the successful and popular events from the past such as the Dog Show

Calling all floats

 

This year Festival Co-ordinator and Councils Special Events Coordinator Rebecca Mack are mounting a major drive to have even more organisations enter the Parade. Remember there are many variations to decorating a full-size truck. Start thinking now…..you still have nearly 5 months to go, but it will pass quickly – remember – "Music! Music! Music!"

Expressions of interest will soon be called for organizations wishing to be part of the Food Hall, and for organisations and individuals wishing to run market stalls.

Have you had the chance to see the Festival Raffle prizes yet? They are in the window of the Roxy, and well worthy of a visit. These three great prizes will create a huge amount of interest – tickets are already on sale at the Tourism Office at the Roxy, or at the Council.

The full Orange Festival program will be announced at the end of March.

Compliments of The Bingara Advocate