Miranda, 2, and Natasha Jimenez were keen to welcome in the New Year at the Heritage Nanango New Year’s Mardi Gras; organisers say the popular event will be even bigger and better this year

December 23, 2016

If you’re planning to see in the New Year on December 31, the South Burnett will be offering a wide range of events to suit every taste and pocket.

We’ve tracked down thirteen of the best ways to welcome in 2017 – here they are:

* * *

Family Events

Families will enjoy the Heritage Nanango New Years Eve Mardi Gras at the Nanango Showgrounds, which will be offering showground rides and amusements for children, live entertainment, food and drinks at everyday prices.

The Mardi Gras will run from 4:00pm until late and will also feature two giant fireworks displays – one at around 8:00pm so mums and dads can put their children to bed early, and a second one at midnight for adults. There’s no admission fee, and shoppers who’ve been collecting Mardi Gras dollars by shopping in Nanango in the lead up to Christmas can use them to pay for food, drinks and rides.

Families will also enjoy the New Years Eve Family Rodeo at Goomeri Showgrounds, which will kick off at 8:00am with a junior rodeo, and follow that with pre-performance events from 1:00pm before the main rodeo gets underway at 5:00pm, followed by live music until the New Year arrives.

A licensed bar and BBQ will be operating all day and night, and there are also free unpowered camping sites available on the grounds if you want to stay over.

Entry fees are $20 for adults, $15 for young people aged 12 to 18 (under-12s are free) or $50 for a family of four.

And families who like to camp out will likely enjoy a stay at Lake Boondooma, which will be holding a New Years Eve party featuring live music, a licensed bar, food and market stalls and fireworks – one at 9:00pm for parents, and the other at midnight for night owls.

Overnight camping sites will also be available if you’d like to stay over, but everyone is welcome.

* * *

Dances

If you’d prefer to see in the New Year with a dance, Booie Hall at 1867 Booie Road will be holding their New Year’s Eve Dance from 8:00pm until past midnight.

Music will be supplied by Deryck’s Music and there’ll be the usual great supper, novelties and lucky door prize. Admission is $10 for adults or $5 for high school students.

Alternately, Nanango RSL will be ringing in the New Year with a Dance Night inside Taras Hall led by the South Burnett’s very own Elvis, Jeff Hancox.

Doors will open at 7:00pm and Jeff will take to the staqe from 8:00pm until late. Tickets are $20 per head, and all proceeds will be going to Jeff to help pay for his costumes.

* * *

Dining Out

If you enjoy seafood, Dimities Cottage at 49 Haly Street in Wondai will be holding an all-you-can-eat New Year’s Eve Seafood Smorgasbord from 6:30pm.

The smorgasbord features hot and cold seafoods fresh from the trawlers, as well as non-seafood dishes, desserts, tea and coffee. Cost is $40 per head and it’s a BYO night, but a booking is essential if you want to be sure of a seat: (07) 4168-5744.

* * *

Speedway

If you’re a speedway fan, the South Burnett Speedway Club will be holding the first day of a two-day meeting at their track inside the Kingaroy Showgrounds.

The focus of this two-day meeting will be the SRE SSA National Street Stock Title, and there’ll be heats for this on December 31 as well as Mod Lites for a change of pace.

The main gate will open at 3:00pm and the racing will get underway at 5:00pm. Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for concessions and students. Under 12s can get in for free if accompanied by an adult, and a canteen will be operating on site, too.

* * *

Mr Q will be ringing in the New Year at the Maidenwell Hotel from 8:00pm until late, which will also be offering pig-on-a-spit dinners from 5:00pm

Pig-On-A-Spit Nights

If barbecues are more your style, the Cooyar Hotel on the New England Highway at Cooyar will be ringing in the New Year with a pig-on-a-spit night, accompanied by live music from popular South Burnett entertainer Arthur Nettelfield.

Admission is free and there’s free overnight camping nearby.

The Maidenwell Hotel will also be holding a pig-on-a-spit dinner from 5:00pm, followed by entertainment from popular South Burnett band Mr Q, who’ll play from 8:00pm until late.

Admission to this is free, too, and there’s also free camping available in the hotel’s grounds if you want to sleep over for the following day’s Recovery Party with Muddy Flats.

* * *

Party Nights

Party people are spoiled for choice.

In Nanango, the Palace Hotel in Drayton Street will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party with local band Funadix from 8:00pm to 2:00am. Admission is free and everyone is welcome, but there’ll be a lockout after 10:00pm.

In Kingaroy, the premier South Burnett covers band of the mid-to-late 1980s Pro Rata will be reuniting for a 31st Anniversary Concert to ring in the New Year in the beer garden of the Carrollee Hotel in King Street, Kingaroy. Cover charge is $10 and the fun starts around 9:30pm.

Nearby, the Commercial Hotel in Glendon Street will be holding a New Year’s Eve Celebrity Dress Up Party from 8:00pm to 2:00am, featuring DJ Danny B from Brisbane and DJ Marshall from New Zealand.

Entry is free if you arrive before 9:00pm, or $10 afterwards; and a lock-out will apply from midnight (or earlier, if the hotel reaches full capacity) and guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite celebrity.

But perhaps the ultimate party will occur further down the road at the Kingaroy Hotel-Motel, which will be holding a VIP New Year’s Eve Party from 8:00pm until 2:00am.

For $99 per head if you pre-book (or $130 per head if you don’t) guests can get to enjoy gourmet finger foods all night along with beers, spirits, wines, Moet champagne, cocktails, mocktails and soft drinks.

Tickets can be purchased from the Kingaroy Hotel-Motel bar or by phoning (07) 4162-1677. Cocktail dress applies and there’ll be a lockout at 12:30pm.

Pro Rata will be holding a 31st anniversary concert in Kingaroy on New Year’s Eve

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.