July 9, 2019
This year’s Blackbutt Avocado Festival will be raining cash … or more correctly, parachuting it in.
Daredevil skydiver Rod Benson and two assistants will be attempting to parachute on to the main oval at the Blackbutt Showgrounds from a plane flying 1500 metres overhead.
While falling, the parachutists will each unveil enormous signs showcasing either one of the festival’s major sponsors or the Australian flag.
And to make the challenge even more difficult, all three will be attempting to land on an avocado-shaped character drawn on the oval’s surface.
Weather permitting, the attempt will occur at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 14.
Spectators who’d like to take part – and potentially win a great cash prize for their troubles – are being invited to play ‘Avo Drop Tombola’.
To do this, they can buy a special cup for $5 (or three cups for $10) and place it on the oval by 1:30pm before the jump attempt begins.
The owner of the cup placed closest to where Rod Benson touches down will win $500.
And cup owners closest to where Rod’s two assistants land can win $200 or $100, respectively.
All profits raised from the tombola will be put back into the festival to help grow the popular annual event.
This year’s Avocado Festival will run from 8:00am to 4:00pm and will include many themed and sponsored activities.
The official opening will occur at noon and will be followed by a street parade from Blackbutt’s IGA to the Showgrounds in Bowman Road at 1:00pm.
As well as a large number of stalls, the festival will also be offering a South Burnett Flavour Alley showcasing the region’s paddock-to-plate produce along with South Burnett wines.
There’ll also be cooking demonstrations, avocado ice-cream and many other avocado-inspired treats on offer.
There is no admission charge to the festival, and more details about what’s on offer this year can be found on the festival’s website or its Facebook page
