Google has
reliably informed me that one definition of the word ‘Festival’ is:
1. An often regularly recurring program of cultural
performances, exhibitions, or competitions
2. Revelry;
conviviality
We are
lucky enough to enjoy several outstanding festivals in Tropical North
Queensland but the one which stands out to me in terms of ‘revelry and
conviviality’ has to be the Wallaby Creek Festival.
This year
will be the 11th festival organized by an incredibly dedicated group
of volunteers and held in the spectacular surroundings of Home Rule Rainforest
Lodge in Rossville at the northern end of the Bloomfield Track.
The
festivities will be held over 3 days from 28-30 September in 2012 and it’s no
coincidence that this annual explosion of creativity in the rainforest takes
place over the September school holidays.
Wallaby
Creek is a family friendly Festival in every sense of the word providing enough
arts, crafts and music workshops to keep children engaged but also ensuring that
there is a wide selection of live music, performance art, bush poetry and
adults workshops to keep the big kids busy all weekend as well. The workshops
are great places for the kids to make new friends in a relaxed and safe
environment.
Market
stalls, food stalls and a bar are dotted around the Festival site and two
stages offer an eclectic mix of live music showcasing a mix of local bands and Festival
favorites from far and wide.
Camping at
Home Rule is included in the price of the tickets and the lush rainforest hides
safe swimming in Wallaby Creek as well as a beautiful hike up to Home Rule
Falls for those who wish to experience both the natural surroundings as well as
the cultural highlights over the weekend.
It is
probably this close connection to nature that makes the atmosphere of the
Festival so ….. natural. This is not a weekend for airs and graces or contrived
nuances it’s the time for everyone whether young or old to just be yourself,
cut loose, make new friends and have a damned good party.
See you
there!
The full 2012 program can be seen here - http://www.wallabycreekfestival.org.au