Wollombi Valley Country Fair - fun for everyone
Date: 27-Jul-09
Author: Michael Noyce
Following a recent public meeting plans are progressing very well for a weekend of fun on 7 and 8 November. At the meeting the Wollombi Valley community were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the initial plans for the Fair and give ideas to make the Fair a really fun time for everyone. Its great that so many different groups in the community will be involved in the Fair; a real community effort.
The Fair will centre around some key activities on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November; Saturday - woodchopping, Lantern Parade, and the opening of Sculpture in the Vineyard; Sunday - the Museum Open Day. There will be a range of other activities on these days including a farmers market, stalls and food in Negri St, Scottish dancing lessons, a dog parade, various workshops, activities for children, and street theatre and buskers.
On Saturday the woodchopping will be at The Tavern, and will be basically all afternoon. The farmers market and stalls in Negri St will feature local produce, arts and crafts, wine tastings, and food. The Lantern parade will start about 7-30pm. In a spectacular and colourful walk from Wollombi Hall up Wollombi Road and then back to The Tavern for the opening of Sculpture in the Vineyard, children from local schools will display the lanterns that they have made. A number of lantern making workshops will soon be conducted for the children.
Sunday will be another big day. In recognition of the history and heritage of the Valley, Sunday will be the Museum Open Day. The Museum has arranged for very old steam engines and tractors to be displayed in the Museum grounds and in the Wollombi Tavern grounds. A number of the smaller steam engines will be on display in the Museum grounds. All engines will be running and some will show what they were used for on our local farms and in country areas.
The Museum has also arranged for demonstrations by local artisans of the construction of a post and rail fence with a chain saw, cutting out a water trough with an axe, and making a square post - the old way. Another artisan will show us how he cuts slabs from a tree trunk with his very large chain saw. This will all happen in 2 one hour sessions - one in the late morning and one in the early afternoon.
There is still plenty of time for anyone with ideas for the Fair to be involved, and the Organising Committee would welcome any input and feedback whatsoever. In particular, we would love to hear from any ' musicans', 'buskers', actors, artists etc who would like to be involved in what is shaping up to be a great 2 days of fun and frivolity. People are welcome to contact myself on 0416 245655 or email wollombicountryfair@live.com.au with any ideas.
