With a massive weekend well and truly behind Armidale, it’s time to sit back and reflect on just how lucky we are to live in this terrific city. When the talk of the town over the last week has been about just how many events were on this weekend, how can you complain?
If you hadn’t already started the fun on Friday night with the sideshow and free entertainment at Civic and Curtis Parks, then your weekend began on Saturday morning with a brisk jog in the Campus to City Canter or a delicious pancake whilst taking in the sounds of the Armidale City Band or a stirring performance from the region’s pipe bands in the mall. This was the opening crescendo to a fabulous display of civic pride in our city.
As a steady drizzle settled in just before the start of the Armidale Autumn Festival parade, nobody seemed to mind as the Armidale community lined the parade route for the best vantage point.
Plastic ponchos were in high demand with participants in the parade, to keep their beautiful costumes and national dress dry.
Numbers of entries were down slightly on last year; however this was made up for with the colour and creativity of the many floats on show.
With the parade over for another year, the entertainment just kept coming, with fun for all the family at Civic and Curtis Parks. For the rest of us who needed to recharge before the night’s entertainment began, it was a quick chance to grab a bite to eat or a nanna nap before heading out to the Armidale Sportsground for the Legends of League game or making your way out to Saumarez Homestead for the Optus Flix in the Stix.
The Independent caught up with Rene Dasey, Event Coordinator for Armidale Dumaresq Council, who was winding down with a glass of wine before settling in for an evening of entertainment at the Optus Flix in the Stix.
“The Autumn Festival Parade was a big success considering the inclement weather we had today,” said Rene.
“Everyone turned out and the community was in great spirits.”
There had been some criticism of the scheduling of all the events for the one weekend; however Rene believes that this enabled everyone to be catered for.
“I think it was great that everyone had the opportunity to do something and have the variety,” said Rene.
“We have had events for all ages, young and old.
“We always plan the Autumn Festival every year and it just so happened that everything else just fell around it.”
On Sunday it was a day for the sports fanatics with the bike races and the Mile Foot Race through the streets of the CBD.
Story: Jo Harrison
