Nanango Easter Saturday Race Meeting

The Nanango Race Club will be holding their Easter Saturday Race Meeting at the Lee Park Raceway in Racecourse Road just south of Nanango from 10:00am to around 5:00pm today. Today's races will have an "Easter Bonnets and Top Hats" theme and everyone is encouraged to dress up in their best Easter outfits and/or accessories to be in the running for some great Moffatdale Ridge Fashions Of The Field spot prizes. The race club's popular Pink Champagne Bar will be serving up platters all day if you fancy a bite; a licensed bar and BBQ will be operating under the extended covered area; the race club canteen will be open for sit-down dining; and there'll be plenty of bookmakers and an on-course tote available in the betting ring to take your wagers. There's also plenty of undercover seating and lots of parking on course. The Easter meeting is always a biggie and this one might be even bigger with free Easter Eggs, face painting and other entertainment for children plus great live music for adults. As usual, patrons are welcome to picnic on the lawns and even bring their own marquee if they like. This will be a 5 race meeting and buses will be running to the races from Kingaroy's Glendon Street Bus Depot (12:00 noon) and the rear of Nanango's Fitzroy Hotel at 12:30pm. The first race will leave the barriers around 1:30pm, but gates will open earlier so go-getters can get a head start on that all-important socialising. Admission is just $10 for adults and $5 for pensioners (under-16s are free). Everyone is welcome! More details? Phone Rosemary on (07) 4163-2346 or email her.

Big Booie Easter BBQ

Cranes Winery on Haydens Road at Booie will be holding the first day of their annual Big Booie Easter BBQ from 10:00am to 4:00pm today. Winemaker Bernie Cooper will be donning his chef's apron to cook up sizzling BLT burgers, chicken burgers with chimichurri, snack cheese platters and jumbo cheese platters - and if you can manage to fit in dessert, there'll also be three flavours of home-made cheese cakes available (jaffa, peanut brittle or choc mint), all served with a shot of one of Cranes' fabulous Booie Range Liqueurs. Popular entertainer Guy Davis will also be providing hours of relaxed live music during lunch. In addition, Cranes' full range of award-winning wines will be available as well. Bookings aren't essential, but if you want to be certain of a seat they're probably advisable: (07) 4162-7647.

Maidenwell Running Festival

The second day of the 5th annual Maidenwell Running Festival (formerly known as the Maidenwell Marathon) will be held at the Maidenwell Sportsgrounds today. As the name suggests, the Marathon is for runners and walkers and there will be 12 events over three days, ranging from 400m foot races to a 56km ultra-marathon. Whatever your fitness or competitive level - and no matter whether you're walking or running - the festival has a distance to suit everyone. Today the Festival will kick off at the Maidenwell Sports Grounds at 6:00am where runners will have the choice of a half marathon, a full marathon or a 56km ultra-marathon course. These will be followed by an 8:00am start for a 10km run; a 9:30am start for a 5km run; and a 10:30am start for a 2.2km children’s run, followed by a Beer Mile Championship at 3:00pm. And tonight, everyone is welcome along to the Maidenwell Hotel for one of their famous pig-on-a-spit nights plus live music. Free camping is also available at the Sports Grounds on a first-come, first-served basis if you'd like to stay the full weekend. You can read more about the Maidenwell Running Festival on the Festival's website, or phone Bronwyn on 0439-842-412. You can also read more about what last year's Running Festival was like on our website.

Wondai Autumn Garden Expo

The first day of the weekend long Wondai Autumn Garden Expo will be held at the Wondai Sports Grounds off the Bunya Highway just north of Wondai's CBD from 8:00am this morning through until 4:30pm this afternoon. The Expo is one of the largest gardening shows of its type in south-east Queensland, and it always draws hundreds of keen gardeners to Wondai every April. This year (for the tenth year running) it's being held in conjunction with the South Burnett Orchid Society's Annual Show, which will be staged at the nearby Wondai Diggers Club in Mackenzie Street, Wondai from 9:30am to 3:00pm; and the Wondai Art Gallery are also running a special exhibition on a floral theme too - so make sure you check out all three venues! As well as the usual huge range of plant and garden-related product displays, the Expo will also feature a number of interesting and well-informed guest speakers talking on a variety of gardening topics throughout the day. Guests can also get to enjoy a Flower Show and live music, and there'll be plenty of food and drink outlets dotted around the grounds too. Admission is a slim $5 per day (young people under 15 can get in for free) and you can get more details and/or book a stand of your own on the Garden Expo's website or by phoning Helen on (07) 4168-9297.

South Burnett Orchid Society Annual Show

The South Burnett Orchid Society will be holding their annual show at the Wondai RSL's club rooms in Mackenzie Street, Wondai from 9:30am to about 3:00pm today in conjunction with the Autumn Garden Expo (see above). The orchid show features magnificent displays of orchids, foliage, floral art and photos. There'll also be plants and orchid supplies on sale, along with raffles and a Lucky Door prize. Admission is just $3 and everyone is welcome! More details? Phone Linda on 0467-591-954

Murgon Men's Shed

The Murgon Men's Shed will be holding a meeting at their shed in Macalister Street, Murgon (the former Murgon Railway Station) today. The Men's Shed meets every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday to work on projects and new members are always welcome.

Proston Regatta In The Park

Here's something different! No need to travel to the Territory for the Henley on Todd Regatta - the Proston Round Table, the Coverty Creek Social Club, Mondure District Rural Fire Brigade and the South Burnett Regional Council will be holding their own Regatta In The Park at Railway Park in Rodney Street, Proston from 10:00am this morning following the Proston QCWA's Easter Parade and markets (see below). To be part of the Regatta, participants simply need to hire a pretend boat for $2.50 per race (children aged 4-7 can hire an inflatable for free) and take part in a range of fun, non-competitive, gender-neutral events in the park with the chance to win some great prizes. Spectators can enjoy the entertainment, too (there's no admission fee). Proston is well-known for whacky, off-the-wall events that are great fun, and this family-friendly get-together will be alcohol free as well. Everyone is welcome! More details? Visit the Regatta website or its Facebook page. You can also read more about what last year's Regatta was like (and see photos) on our website.

Proston Easter Parade

Here's something else that's really different! The Proston QCWA will be holding an Easter Parade from 9:30am to 11:30am in Proston this morning. The parade will assemble at the Baptist Church at 9:30am and then travel along Blake Street to the QCWA Rooms in Railway Park around 10:00am. There'll be prizes for the best-decorated floats of any description (ie cars, trucks, tractors, horse and cart, scooters, walkers and bicycles) and also the best fancy dress costume. Parade fees are just $2 to take part, or 50c for a small float or bike. Afterwards there'll be a morning of fun games including thong-tossing, egg and spoon races, a scavenger hunt and the awesome Proston Regatta (see above), wrapping up with an Easter hat competition at around 11:00am. Stall holders are welcome to take part, too, and stall fees are just $5. Everyone is welcome!

Nanango Panthers Movie Night

POSTPONED: The Nanango Panthers will be holding a free Outdoor Movie Night at the Burnett Street sports fields in Nanango from 5:00pm this evening (movie screening starts at 6:00pm). The night's feature movie is the recently-released animated classic How To Train Your Dragon III - The Hidden World (rated PG), the heart-warming tale of how Toothless the dragon finally met his mate and how he, his human partner Hiccup and Hiccup's feisty fiancee Astrid went on to liberate dragons everywhere. This beautiful film is the final in a trio of How To Train Your Dragon movies. It was only released in cinemas this January, and it scored a high 88 to 91 out of 100 rating from movie review site Rotten Tomatoes. The Panthers canteen will also be open and will be offering $7 meals, snacks and soft drinks. Everyone is welcome - just BYO blanket or chair. Note: This event has been postponed until tomorrow due to rain.

AGL Kumbia Charity Campdraft

The first day of the two-day Kumbia & District Charity Campdraft will be held at the Kumbia Sportsgrounds off Bell Street in Kumbia from early this morning when the canteen opens and begins serving up Big Country Breakfasts through until late this afternoon. This year's Campdraft will have a bumper field of competitors and will be offering some really great Easter campdrafting action, with today's competitions focussing on an Open draft and a combined Maiden/Novice draft offering a combined $5600 in cash prizes. Admission to watch all the action is 100% free for spectators and this evening there'll be live entertainment, a multi-draw raffle, a calcutta and a licensed bar running until midnight. There's also free overnight camping in the Sportsgrounds all weekend if you want to stay over. Everyone is welcome! More details? Phone Malcolm on 0427-009-399, Stacey on 0419-771-484 or Janine on 0408-226-822.

BVRT Easter Adventure Ride - Blackbutt

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association will be hosting a 45km BVRT Easter Adventure Ride of about 45km, departing from the Blackbutt Visitor Information Centre in Hart Street, Blackbutt around 7:00am and proceeding down the Blackbutt Range. The ride will combine the Allery Track with the BVRT and Rohlmann's track across a challenging mix of rutted forestry tracks, gravel roads, some asphalt, about 50 metres of hike-a-bike through a deep creek gully, and an old historic track down an open ridge, finishing at the Old Church Gallery in Moore for lunch. The ride is suitable for mountain bikes and gravel bikes only, is fully supported, and the $35 registration fee includes transport back up to Blackbutt by Out There Cycling (lunch is not included, so bring cash). However, places are limited to 25. Tickets can be booked online through Eventbrite.

Easter At Barambah Cellars

Barambah Cellars - the South Burnett's newest cellar door at 167 Tipperary Road at Moffatdale - will be open for wine tastings and gourmet platters from 10:30am to 4:30pm today, tomorrow and Monday. Barambah Cellars stock hard-to-get South Burnett wines from Nuova Scuola (ie "New School"), Lightning Tree Wines and Hillsdale Estate along with local gourmet produce, and are run by three of the region's top winemakers and viticulturalists. Bookings aren't required but are always appreciated: 0408-850-595.

David Lynch Jr - Nanango

The Palace Hotel in Drayton Street, Nanango will be hosting popular local entertainer David Lynch Jr from 7:30pm until late tonight. Admission is free. More details from Beau at the hotel on (07) 4163-1287.

Wondai Parkrun

The Wondai parkrun group will be holding their weekly 5km timed run at Coronation Park in Wondai at 7:00am this morning. Runners follow a course along the South Burnett Rail Trail and the parkrun group is free to join. All you need to do is register (once) online at parkrun.com.au and bring the printed barcode to any parkrun event. More details? Send an email.

Kingaroy Bowls Club Bingo

The Kingaroy Bowls Club at 141 Youngman St, Kingaroy will be running bingo matches from 7:30pm this evening with over $1000 in prizes on offer. More details from the club on (07) 4162-1404

Easter In The Park - Kingaroy

South Burnett Flightsavers will be holding the 3rd annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day at Memorial Park at the corner of Alford and Burnett Streets in Kingaroy from 8:30am to around noon this morning. There'll be two Easter Egg hunts at 9:00am and 11:00am, along with fun $5 craft activities for children plus three-legged races, egg and spoon races, a sack race and egg tossing. A coffee van will be on site and the Lions will be running a sausage sizzle, with cold drinks available as well. There's no admission charge and everyone is welcome!

The Bourbon Boys - Kingaroy

Popular South Burnett band The Bourbon Boys will be performing at the Commercial Hotel at the corner of Glendon and Haly Streets, Kingaroy from 7:30pm until after midnight tonight. Admission is free. More details from the hotel on (07) 4162-1380.

Monogorilby Camp Oven Comedy Night

The annual Monogorilby Camp Oven Comedy Night will be held at Monogorilby Hall 45km north-west of Boondooma from 10:00am this morning through until the same time tomorrow. This year's get-together is a fundraiser for RACQ LifeFlight and it will offer lots of fun family activities including a Pig on a Spit; sausage sizzle; camp oven damper and camp oven cooking; a licensed bar; stalls and demos; a fun Dog Parade; rib-tickling comedy; and music from walk-ups and local talent, along with raffles. There'll also be free overnight camping and a Bush Poet's Breakfast to kick off Sunday morning. Tickets are just $35 for adults and $15 for youngsters, and you can book some and/or find out more information by phoning (07) 4165-8121.

Robert Early - Kingaroy

Entertainer Robert Early will be performing at the Kingaroy RSL Club in Markwell Street, Kingaroy from 7:30pm until around 11:30pm this evening. Admission is free. More details from the RSL on (07) 4162-1755.

Easter At The Moffatdale Wineries

If you'd like to take a break at a winery over Easter, Moffatdale Ridge on Barambah Road at Moffatdale and Clovely Estate on Steinhardt's Road will both be open today. Clovely's cellar door offers the widest range of award-winning wines in region, including wonderful Mediterranean varieties that are largely unknown to most Australian wine consumers (eg: Barbera, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese) along with more traditional varieties. Over Easter, Clovely's cellar door will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily for wine and olive oil tastings. Moffatdale Ridge, meanwhile, will be open the same hours and in addition to wine tastings, their cafe can provide morning and afternoon teas and lunches as well. Bookings aren't necessary at either winery, but are always appreciated if you're bringing a big group.

Easter Saturday Grocery Shopping

If you need to restock the larder over the Easter break, today is the best day to do it. All the region's supermarkets will be open today and trading until late afternoon or evening. But if you overlook something essential, there's no need to panic - most supermarkets will be open tomorrow and Monday as well (except for Woolworths and Aldi in Kingaroy, which will both be closed on Sunday and Monday).

Western Dressage & Ranch Pattern Clinic - Nanango

The South Burnett Western Performance Club will be holding a Western Dressage & Ranch Pattern Clinic at their club house in Racecourse Road, Nanango from 8:30am today for beginner to intermediate riders. In the morning, the focus will be on correct riding techniques including rider position (legs, hands, seat and posture) and how this influences the horse in terms of tempo, straightness, impulsion and collection, all with a view to maximising points in a test. This will be followed by an afternoon clinic after lunch which will be for test and pattern practice. This clinic will give riders the opportunity to ride a test and have one of Australia’s leading judges critique their strengths and improvement areas and provide invaluable insights about how to build skills in this exact discipline. Course fees are $85 per clinic for a maximum of 10 riders per clinic.