September 8, 2017
Blackbutt is gearing up for its annual Avocado Festival … and this year’s outing on Saturday (September 9) could be the biggest yet.
A swarm of sponsors have come aboard for the event, and the Festival will be offering a full program of activities that will run from 7:00am in the morning right through until late Saturday night.
The surprisingly challenging avocado rolling competition will be making a return appearance, but this year it will be complemented by avocado tossing and avocado juggling.
There’ll also be a competition for the best avocado costume.
And people curious to see how the Blackbutt Memorial Hall is doing in its new location will have the opportunity to inspect it inside and out.
On Festival day, the Hall will be transformed into Avo Central.
South Burnett food ambassador Jason Ford will be giving cooking demonstrations – featuring avocados, naturally – at 9:30am, 12:30pm and 2:00pm.
The Hall will also be hosting competitions, photo and art displays, demonstrations and talks (and from 6:00pm, a big rock and roll dance headlined by the Rockin’ Bodgies).
The highway will be blocked off at 11:00am so the huge Ken Mills Toyota Street Parade can march down Coulson Street and Hart Street to the main arena at Blackbutt Showgrounds.
Naturally, there’ll be all sorts of food, drink and bric-a-brac market stalls along the route and local bands, along with the Panasonic Steel Band and the Memphis Moovers, will be providing free entertainment all day.
Families will find a lot to keep children amused, too.
Australian Dreamtime Reptiles, the Jack and Ma’amselle Claire Roving Stilt Duo and Blazer and Squirt the Fire Truck, a jumping castle and face painting are all guaranteed fun starters, along with horse drawn carriage rides and Trackless Train rides.
On Friday, Festival spokesman Jeff Connor advised visitors to get to the Festival early if they wanted to find the most convenient parking spot, and stay late get the best of the day.
“Thanks to our sponsors we’ve really been able to pull out all the stops this year, and with a fine Spring day forecast for Saturday the weather couldn’t be better,” Jeff said.
“I hope as many people as possible come and make a day of it with us.”
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2017 Avocado Festival Program
7.00am: Breakfast at the Bendigo Bank Country Canteen
7.00am to 6.00pm: Country Canteen – burgers and chips; avo ice-creams and avo cheese cake
8.00am: The Festival begins!
8.00am – 4.00pm: Taromeo Rural Fire Brigade Kids Central
8.00am – 4.00pm: Machinery Alley sponsored by Meandu Mine
8.00am – 4.00pm: Avocado Central Activities – cooking, competitions, photo and art displays, demonstrations and talks
8.00am – 4.00pm: CWA High Street Cafe
9.00am – 4.00pm: AGL Live and Local Bands at The Butt
9.00am – 4.00pm: Avocado Games – the “Avo Roll”
9.00am – 4.00pm: Blackbutt Medical “Get your Avo On” Photo Shoot at Avo Central
9.30am and 12.30pm: Ford on Food Avocado – Jason Ford
9.30am – 3.00pm: Woodchops and Woodcutters Bar sponsored by XXXX Gold
10.00am: Best Avocado Costume Competition – at Avo Central
10.30am: Official Opening of the Festival – at Avo Central: Welcome to Country and Cherbourg Dancers
11.00am: Ken Mills Toyota Street Parade – Coulson Street to the Showgrounds arena
12.00pm: Ken Mills Street Parade Display
2.00pm: Ford on Food Avocado – Jason Ford
4.00pm: Finals Avocado Roll – Big cash prizes sponsored by Mt Binga Orchard
5.00pm: Market stalls and Attractions close
4.00pm to 6.00pm: BBQ at the Bendigo Bank Country Canteen
6.00pm to late: Rockin Bodgies Dance Band – in the Memorial Hall
