February 21, 2019
Murgon’s annual Christmas Fair keeps getting washed out, so the organisers have decided it’s time for a change.
This year, Santa and his sleigh will be replaced by the Easter Bunny and a giant Easter egg at a new Easter Fair which will be held in Murgon’s CBD on Friday, April 5.
After seeing the town’s popular Christmas Fair ravaged by summer storms over the past few years, the Murgon Business and Development Association (MBDA) decided to move the annual celebration to Easter.
“We’ll have all the things people love about the Christmas Fair,” MBDA president Leo Geraghty said.
“All the rides will be there, all the stalls, and everything else we usually have in Lamb Street every December.
“There’ll also be live entertainment, glow stuff, and show bags filled with lots of goodies for children.
“The only big difference is that instead of Santa under the Christmas tree, we’ll have the Easter Bunny with a giant Easter egg families can be photographed with.”
Leo said the MBDA had been very disappointed the Christmas Fair had to be cancelled at short notice last year after heavy rain was forecast.
The three previous years had also been either cancelled or shortened due to bad weather, racking up almost $30,000 in losses for the group.
“We know everyone loves the Christmas Fair, and it’s just such a shame the weather beat us,” he said.
Leo said the group had looked at other possible dates, but any suitable ones would have meant clashing with another town’s Christmas carnival.
So they have elected to trial an Easter Fair instead.
The new event will be held on Friday, April 5, in Lamb Street between 5:30pm and 9:30pm – the last day of Term 1 for most school children.
“This should be a great way for school children to kick off their Easter school holidays,” Leo said.
“And if it works well, then this could become a permanent replacement for our Christmas Fair.”
* * *
The town’s South Burnett Rail Trail Festival will also be changing its date this year.
Organisers held the first Rail Trail festival on Sunday during last October’s long weekend, but had to cut the festivities short when heavy rain began to fall in the afternoon.
“We’ve decided to change the date to Sunday, August 4, this year,” a spokesperson said.
“This is partly to avoid the rain and partly because there are no other competing events at that time of year.
“But the biggest reason is the cooler August weather, which is much better for people who take part in the walking, running and cycling competitions.
“October can be very hot.”
More details about this year’s Rail Trail Festival will be released in coming months.
