By TANIA PHILLIPS
LET’s get the party started, the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival will celebrate 50 years with 10 days of celebrations from Friday through to Sunday 6 March.
This year’s festival program is action-packed with more than 25 events celebrating the harvest of some of Australia’s finest apples and wine grapes, according to president Greg Thouard.
“The Apple and Grape Harvest Festival brings together families and some of the region’s top producers, and allows us to share our passion for fun, food and wine with Queenslanders,” Mr Thouard said.
“Expanded from a three-day event to a 10-day festival for our 50th Anniversary celebrations, this is one of the most exciting programs we have ever staged.
“It perfectly merges incredible major events with homegrown local fun. Most importantly, the festival has our local community at heart as it did back when it all began 50 years ago,” he said.
He said musically the 2016 program and streets of Stanthorpe come alive, hosting the first Australian National Busking Championships – South East Queensland Regional Finals on Friday.
Presented by the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe, buskers are invited to vie for a pool of more than $5000 in prize money.
The same day, Feast of Sounds features an afternoon of music, bringing traditions from around the globe to the Granite Belt.
From Tibetan throat singing to the sacred strains of Gregorian chant and the tradition infused dub of modern Indigenous beats, Feast of Sounds offers a full package cultural experience.
The main weekend features the ‘When in Rome’ Gala Ball on Friday 4 March, and the street carnival, grand parade, grape crush and fireworks on Saturday, 5 March.
Mr Thouard said that one of the highlights would once again be the Rebel FM/The Breeze Street Carnival.
The street carnival includes roving entertainment, morning band parades, poets, stalls, sideshows, kids entertainment, street performers, O’Maras sound stage, Heritage Bank family sound stage and entertainment area, food choices galore and closes with the fireworks spectacular.
“As part of the street carnival, don’t miss Channel Seven weatherman Livio Regano fight it out at the legendary Border Post Grape Crush,” he said.
“The beloved event will see celebrities and local identities come together to compete for the title of Queensland Grape Crushing Champion!”
He said as well as the busking titles this week’s highlights would include That Dam Ride on Sunday.
Cyclists are invited to race for charity in That Dam Ride at Storm King Dam.
The course is designed to suit all levels of cyclist with a 125km main ride, a 70km intermediate or 20km for ride beginners, kids or the whole family and provides stunning scenery through Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt.
After the ride, every paying participant will receive a hat or water bottle, steak burger, drink and apple, while they relax along the banks of Storm King Dam.
Golf revellers will enjoy three tournaments over the 10 days. It hits off on Saturday, 27 February with the Apple and Grape Cup, a Men and Ladies single stroke; followed by a singles stableford on Wednesday 2 March.
