Young country star Bridget O’Shannessy will be performing at Music On The Mountains at The Bunyas this year as part of 2016’s South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show long weekend festival of events
Cr Kathy Duff
South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show chair Cr Kathy Duff

September 30, 2016

The October long weekend is almost upon us … and the South Burnett is getting ready to shine.

The long weekend – which was once Labour Day, but now celebrates the Queen’s Birthday – is also South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show weekend.

And all around the region from Maidenwell to Moffatdale, tourism operators are gearing up to welcome holiday-makers escaping from the city or the coast for a long weekend of fun in the country.

This year 23 different operators will be staging a total of 41 events.

Most will occur on Saturday and Sunday, but there will still be things to see and do on Friday and Monday.

They range from big gatherings like the new Yhurri Gurri Arts and Culture Festival in Cherbourg, the Cooyar Campdraft and the South Burnett Community Orchestra’s annual October concert through to smaller, more intimate gatherings at wineries, restaurants and cafes.

Both Wondai and Kingaroy Regional Art Galleries will be displaying major art exhibitions; and there’ll be open days at The Ration Shed Museum, Ringsfield House, Taabinga Homestead, the Queensland Dairy Industry Museum and Bunya Red Farm.

“The October long weekend is the last public holiday before Christmas, so we’d encourage locals to stay and enjoy this festival too,” festival chair Cr Kathy Duff said.

“It’s designed to show off our region to tourists, but it’s also designed to give locals a great time out in our own back yard. And at family-friendly costs that won’t break the bank.”

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Wondai Art Gallery

The Festival will begin at 6:00pm on Friday night at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery, where the winners of this year’s South Burnett Art Competition will be announced. This annual event is only open to South Burnett artists and offers almost $5000 in prizes. The winning artwork is acquired for the South Burnett Regional Council’s permanent collection.

Admission is $5 and includes finger foods and punch. There’ll also be wine tastings available from Kingsley Grove. This year’s competition has attracted more than 160 entries, and it will remain on display from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, where admission is free.

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Launch Dinner

The festival will be officially launched at Dimities Cottage in Wondai on Friday night with a Sample The South Burnett all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of local foods, accompanied by South Burnett wines, at 7:30pm. Tickets for the dinner are $40 per head and bookings have now closed.

Meanwhile, the Wondai Hotel will be holding an after party with popular South Burnett indigenous band Muddy Flats from 7:30pm until late. The historic hotel will also have meals available, along with pizzas, both freshly-prepared in their kitchens. The after party is open to everyone and there’s no admission fee.

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Kingaroy Art Gallery

The Kingaroy Regional Art Gallery will be marking the October long weekend with an extended showing of the David Bryce Centenary art exhibition. David Bryce was one of the South Burnett’s most celebrated artists, and the Gallery’s exhibition – drawn from public and private collections – is the largest collection of Bryce artworks ever seen.

The exhibition will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Friday, and from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission to view it is free.

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Folk Festival

In Maidenwell, the Maidenwell Folk Festival will begin on Friday evening with informal jam sessions on the Maidenwell Hotel’s front balcony, rear deck and inside.

The hotel will be serving dinners between 6:00pm and 8:30pm, and will stay open until late.

The Folk Festival will continue in the same fashion all day Saturday, and finally wind down around lunchtime on Sunday.

Admission to the Festival is free, and free camping is available in the hotel’s grounds, too.

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Nanango Markets

The Nanango Markets will be operating at Nanango Showgrounds in Cairns Street from 6:00am to 12:00 noon on Saturday.

The Nanango Markets are the largest rural market in south east Queensland and routinely attract up to 400 stallholders.

Admission is free, and in addition to food stalls dotted around the grounds the Showgrounds’ canteen will be offering hearty country breakfasts, tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks.

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History Tour

A gold coin donation bus tour of Nanango’s historic sites will be running from the Showgrounds on Saturday morning in conjunction with the Nanango Markets.

Nanango is the oldest town in the South Burnett and the one-hour tour takes visitors on an eye-opening journey through more than 170 years of its colourful and fascinating history.

Because the markets are so busy, guests will need to phone 0427-980-407 for pickup location instructions and pickup times.

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Cooyar Campdraft

The Cooyar Campdraft will be held at the Cooyar Showgrounds in Rangemore Road on Saturday and Sunday. This popular annual campdraft always draws hundreds of competitors from all over south-east Queensland, and if you’re a campdrafting fan it provides hours of cost-free entertainment.

A bar and canteen will be operating at the grounds on both days, and admission to the campdraft is free for spectators. There are also inexpensive campsites available in the grounds.

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Cooyar Rodeo

A little closer to the centre of town, the Cooyar Hotel will be running an Xtreme Rodeo from 4:00pm until late on Saturday. The rodeo will feature bull and bronco jumping, and at 8:30pm popular South Burnett band Mr Q will be playing on the back of a truck until late into the night.

Admission to the rodeo is $15 for adults, $10 for concessions or $40 for a family.

There’ll be barbecue food available, as well as free camping at Swinging Bridge park outside the hotel.

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Ration Shed Museum

The Ration Shed Museum in Cherbourg will be holding a mini Open Day from 10:00am to 12:00 noon on Saturday morning so visitors coming to Cherbourg for the Yhurri Gurri Arts & Culture Festival can arrive a little earlier and find out more about the town’s history first.

The Museum houses extensive displays outlining Cherbourg’s history, along with a gift store full of local arts and crafts and copies of books and DVDs produced by the Museum. Guided tours will be available too, and admission is $10.

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Yhurri Gurri

The Yhurri Gurri Arts & Culture Festival will be held at Jack O’Chin Oval in Cherbourg from 1:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday. The festival focuses on music, arts, food and indigenous culture and performers who’ll be appearing include Chad Morgan, Roger Knox, Mop and The Dropouts, Lance O’Chin, Les Collins, Les O’Chin and 2016’s Troy Cassar-Daly award winner Billy Pitt, alongside local musicians Muddy Flats, Deadly Wayz, Lillian Gray and Steve Hart.

There’ll also be market stalls, pop up art galleries and fun and games for children. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students/concessions or $30 for a family.

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Dairy Museum

The Queensland Dairy Industry Museum at Sommerville Street in Murgon will be holding their annual Open Day from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday. This fun family event features historical working displays of olden-day activities like butter-making, shingle splitting, milk separating and hand milking, along with farm animals, antique engines, blacksmithing, rope making and more.

There’s also live entertainment in the grounds, and fresh billy tea, coffee, soft drinks and damper are available if you get hungry. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for children under 12.

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Kingsley Grove

Kingsley Grove Estate near Kingaroy will be open all weekend and will be offering three free, one-hour Wine Master Classes to explain the winemaking process: one at 10:00am on Saturday, and two classes on Sunday at 10:00am and 3:30pm.

In addition to wine tastings and sales, Kingsley Grove also cook wood-fired pizzas to order which guests can enjoy at the cellar door. The winery will be open from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Monday as well.

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Crane Wines

Cranes Winery at Booie will be holding a Big Booie BBQ on Saturday and Sunday, offering platters, barbecued delights, live music and the winery’s full range of award-winning wines and liqueurs.

The winery will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm both days, and have a covered deck to ensure guests can enjoy a visit to the cellar door regardless of what the weather is doing. The cellar door will also be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Monday as well.

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SBCO Concert

The South Burnett Community Orchestra will be presenting their annual October long weekend concert at Kingaroy Town Hall at 5:30pm on Saturday night (concert starts at 6:30pm sharp).

This year the theme is “Music From Stage And Screen” and the orchestra will be performing well known tunes from popular Broadway musicals and films.

A sausage sizzle will be running at the forecourt from 5:30pm and coffee and tea will be available at interval. Tickets to the concert are $15 for adults, $10 for concessions or $30 for a family, and they’ll be available at the door.

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Garden Party

Dimities Cottage in Wondai will be holding a Spring Garden Party offering High Teas between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Saturday. Guests can enjoy everything from Lady Flo’s pumpkin scones, Bunya Nut shortbreads and peanut and chocolate cupcakes through to Chef’s sweet and savoury treats for $12.50 per head.

And on Sunday, they’ll be holding an all-you-can-eat Lunch In The Country Smorgasbord from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm for $20 per head.

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Sax On The Ridge

Moffatdale Ridge Winery at Moffatdale will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, and the South Burnett’s best saxophonist will be providing entertainment at the winery’s cellar door from 11:00am to 3:00pm on both days.

In addition to wine tastings, Moffatdale Ridge’s cafe will be providing morning and afternoon teas and lunches, but guests are welcome to just come along and listen if they like. Moffatdale Ridge’s cellar door will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Monday as well.

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Farm Capers

Bunya Red Farm near Kingaroy will be holding two 0pen days on Saturday and Sunday between 10:00am and 3:30pm. The farm produces award-winning capers, and during both days guests will be able to see and hear what goes into producing capers and see (and try) the many types of caper products produced from the farm’s output.

The farm tours are free, and Ploughman’s Lunches are available for $15 upwards if ordered in advance. The farm can also provide $10 overnight camping, and $2.50 cups of tea and coffee.

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Discover Coffee

On Sunday in Kingaroy, Taste South Burnett will be offering a coffee appreciation day with coffee-making demonstrations from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Top South Burnett barista Bonny Heit will be showing how to make a great espresso at home, and providing lots of useful tips on how to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

Taste South Burnett’s extensive range of South Burnett foods and wines will be available for purchase, and they’ll also be offering morning and afternoon teas and light lunches.

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Long Sunday Lunch

At Inverlaw, Mulanah Gardens will be holding a long lunch with live music on their lawns from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday.

Mulanah Gardens are a bed and breakfast and cafe that specialise in light meals, cakes and slices.

On Sunday they’ll be rolling out their latest seasonal menu and guests can enjoy morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea, or simply come with friends to relax. There is no admission charge to the grounds.

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Explore Ringsfield

In Nanango, historic Ringsfield House at 41-45 Alfred Street will be holding an Open Day from 10:00am to 4:00pm, allowing guests to inspect this magnificently restored 1908 Queenslander or the many other historic buildings from the Nanango district that now have a home in Ringsfield’s grounds.

Ringsfield also has an on-site cafe where guests can dine on anything from a Devonshire Tea through to freshly-prepared enchiladas, all expertly prepared by the cafe’s friendly staff.

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Historic Homestead

Taabinga Homestead off Stuart Valley Drive west of Kingaroy will also be holding an Open Day between 9:00am and 1:00opm on Sunday. The Homestead was built in 1846 as one of the area’s pioneering properties, and a village quickly sprang up nearby that lasted for more than 60 years until Kingaroy was founded.

Admission is $5 for adults or high school students (primary school aged children and toddlers are free) and there will be guided tours of the homestead and outbuildings. Light refreshments such as tea, coffee and slices will be also available for purchase.

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Music On The Mountains

Lyrics Restaurant and Elz Bistro in the Bunya Mountains will be holding a free “Music On The Mountains” afternoon concert featuring up-and-coming country music star Bridget O’Shannessy from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Sunday.

Lyrics Restaurant will also be running an all-you-can-eat $65 per head seafood smorgasbord from noon to 2:00pm, and Elz Bistro will be offering afternoon teas, light snacks and dinners if you want to stay on, and accommodation in the Bunya Mountains can be arranged too.

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More details about any event – and maps showing how to get to each one – can be found on the mobile-friendly South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show website

A one-page calendar of the weekend’s events can be found here


 

One Response to "South Burnett Gets Ready To Shine"

  1. Although I live far away from the Burnett, I enjoy being kept in touch with events and happenings courtesy of soutburnett.com.au. Accordingly I was blown away by the smorgasbord of weekend offerings detailed in the item “South Burnett Gets Ready To Shine” (30 September).

    I wish all projects well. If you live in the area, you need to GET OUT and ABOUT in the coming days. Brilliant!

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