June 19, 2019
The third annual Wondai Country Festival is on this weekend … and organisers are expecting it will be the biggest yet.
Organisers have introduced several new running events to the program, and several new entertainers have been added to Saturday’s schedule.
Here’s what will be happening in Coronation Park, the South Burnett Rail Trail and in the McEuen Forestry:
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Saturday
This year’s Festival will kick off at 7:00am on Saturday with a bumper version of the monthly Wondai Markets in Coronation Park in conjunction with a Saturday morning parkrun along the Rail Trail, which is free for all runners and walkers.
There’ll be more than 105 market and food stalls and amusement rides in the grounds, along with a full day of entertainment including live country music from the Stolzenberg Brothers, the Wondai Town & District Band, several local choirs, St John’s Lutheran School whipcrackers, and the always-amusing Memphis Moovers.
There’ll also be face-painting, a jumping castle, pony rides and an animal nursery for the kids, along with a colouring-in competition run by the Wondai Regional Art Gallery.
At 8:30am, runners can line up for the Male, Female, Under 40 and Over 40 CROW-FM Dash For Cash, racing over a 1km course from the bridge 1km south of Wondai along the Rail Trail to the finish line.
Each Dash For Cash will be limited to 15 runners, costs $15 to enter, and offers a $100 cash prize for the winner and a $50 second prize for the runner-up.
At 8:45am, people with a disability and carers pushing wheelchairs will be able to take part in the South Burnett CTC All Abilities race over 1km for a $10 entry fee. All entrants will receive a medal for successfully completing the course.
This will be followed at 9:00am with a 2km Fun Run/Walk with a $5 entry fee.
At 9:45am, the South Burnett Mountain Bike Club will be hosting a free 30km Wondai Country Festival Rail Trail Ride along the South Burnett Rail Trail to Murgon and back, with a 10:00am roll off.
And at 2:30pm, runners who fancy a walk on the wild side will be able to take part in the 10km PCA McEuen Forestry Trail Run for $40.
Saturday’s events will be capped off at 4:00pm with the “Las Vegas In Wondai” show at Wondai Town Hall, featuring the hits of Elvis, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Neil Diamond and many more delivered by father and daughter duo Johnny and Ashleigh Fogwell.
Tickets to the concert are $20 for adults and $10 for school children (under 5s are free), and they’ll be available when the doors open at 3:30pm.
After the show, dinner can be bought at the nearby Wondai RSL from 6:00pm.
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Sunday
The festival will continue on Sunday with three more runs along the South Burnett Rail Trail, all starting at 6:45am:
- 42.2km Ken Mills Automotive & Machinery Marathon
- 21.1km Bendigo Bank half-marathon, and
- 10km PCA Rail Trail Run
The South Burnett Mountain Bike Club will also be hosting another free fun cycle ride – this time through the McEuen Forestry at the end of Mackenzie Street – from 9:00am to about 10:30am.
Riders who want to take part should gather in Coronation Park by 9:00am.
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Online registrations for any of this year’s Wondai Country Festival races can be made on the Festival’s website up until Thursday night, June 20.
Latecomers can also register an hour prior to each event on the day, unless the event is already booked out.
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