Holy guacamole, he’s back … former Blackbutt resident Jeff Connor – one of the founders of the Avocado Festival – returned for the day to help out on the microphone alongside compere Gavin Jones
September 24, 2024
Did you ava good time this year at the Blackbutt Avocado Festival?
The town’s annual celebration of everything connected with avocados attracted a big crowd to the rail trail area around Memorial Hall on September 14.
There were wacky avocado competitions with cash prizes involving wheelbarrows, juggling, tossing, rolling and even eating!
Yes, eating … one festival attendee walked away with $250 after downing a size 20 avocado in just over 13 seconds!
Then there was the lucky Avo Drop parachute cup competition (with more cash to be won!).
As well as the avocado-themed games and prizes, there was live music, woodchopping in the showgrounds and a parade (see below) featuring a pipe band and vehicles from the Blackbutt Car Enthusiasts Club.
The car club also hosted a show and shine, with trophies awarded, near Nukku Nook.
There were craft stalls inside the Memorial Hall, while outside Blackbutt-Benarkin Lions Club members were serving up food and drinks.
Market stalls were erected in two lines beside the rail trail, and festival-goers could even book a helicopter ride.
The fun stretched from the hall down to the canteen and the licensed bar in the showgrounds, where live music was playing all day.
Mayor Kathy Duff and local councillor Linda Little were riding high in the parade
Volunteers Jo Hanson and Carolyn Craig were selling lucky Avo Drop cups
“Terry The Great”, from Brisbane, was juggling avos. and teaching others how to do it, too!
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and her husband Jason, right, were catching up with Blackbutt postmaster Emeric Charles, centreTracy Bishop and Allan Reading were keeping busy at the Blackbutt-Benarkin Lions Club stallVolunteers Sharon and Douglas Grant, with “Havana”, were selling Avocado Festival-themed merchandiseRay and Kayleigh Ellington travelled from Coffs Harbour to play with the Murrumba Pipes and Drums Society on stage and in the paradeEthan Bond, Toowoomba; Charles Bond, Cherbourg; and Max Dillon, Gold Coast … Ethan was sharing some didj music with the crowdThe crew from Rockin’ Our Abilities at Murgon were a hit on the festival stageBradley Smith, from Woodford, was sending the chips flying in the woodchopping arenaBlackbutt Avocado Festival chair James Trousdell with Avo JoeLiz Tennant and Adrienne Liddell were selling items made by the Blackbutt Craft GroupCatching up in Blackbutt … Loretta Winters, Kingaroy; Ruby, Jennifer and Rosie Wingfield, from Blackbutt; and Amber Corrin, KingaroyFestival stalls were erected in rows alongside the rail trail
