November 30, 2020
COVID may have led to the cancellation of this year’s Pumpkin Festival but eased restrictions meant Goomeri’s Christmas Carnival could go ahead on Saturday night.
This year’s carnival was jointly organised by the Goomeri Lions Club and Goomeri Pumpkin Festival committee.
They were obliged to make a few modifications to ensure compliance with COVID Safe practices – which included moving the event from the McIvor Street sportsgrounds to Market Square in the heart of town, enclosed within fencing.
And, of course, they also had to ensure everyone provided contact tracing information.
Happily, these minor changes seemed to have little effect on the crowd, which turned out to be one of the biggest seen at the town’s Christmas celebrations for years.
Apart from local residents, visitors came from all over the South Burnett and surrounding districts, all keen to enjoy a night of relaxed fun after the heat of the day.
Once in the grounds, they could browse market stalls selling everything from freshly made fudge to garden ornaments, clothing and knick-knacks; or satisfy their hunger with fish and chips, burgers, wood-fired barbecue treats or, perhaps, just fairy floss.
They could also take a chance in the raffles that ran all evening.
Singer Natalie Fenton kept the crowd entertained on stage, and about 7:30pm Santa arrived to delight small children as he held court in the Murgon Men’s Shed’s Pumpkin Coach.
A fireworks display, sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions Goomeri, rounded out the night about 8:00pm.
Goomeri Pumpkin Festival co-ordinator Kim Boyter paid tribute to the many locals who made the event possible.
“Volunteers are the backbone of any community and without them we could not have achieved this, so they all deserve a big vote of thanks,” Kim said.
