By Tania Phillips
TWEED Heads will come alive on Sunday morning for the brand new Octopus’s Garden Festival.
The event, which begins at 9am, will celebrate the best the Tweed’s River Precinct can offer according to festival committee secretary Michelle Day.
“It will be a chance to pack a picnic blanket, sit on the banks of the river, listening to music and enjoying the food,” she said.
“It is an opportunity to come and explore this hidden gem.”
The new festival, backed by the Tweed’s Tourism Body Destination Tweed, has been organised to put Tweed Heads back on the map. It has been organised by a group of Tweed-based business people keen to attract tourism back to the area.
Michelle said the event would highlight all the things that region had to offer. She said most people came to Tweed for the business area and did not notice the beauty of the river and just what was available in the Region from the Tweed Heads Bowls Club around to Scales Seafood – along the brand new walkway.
“We will have live music courtesy of local buskers all throughout the day as well as plenty of cooking displays,” she said.
One of the highlights of the day will be a crab show by Tweed Endeavour Cruises.
“We will be talking about crabs – the difference between males and females, what they eat,” Aaron Sims of TEC said.
“We will be showing people how to cook them and what to do with them.”
There will also be plenty of chances to take small cruises on the river and to check out the houseboats as well as heading to the different eateries along the area for cooking and food displays.
“Marine Sea Rescue will be coming along and allowing people to check out their boats as well as running a fundraising sausage sizzle,” Michelle said.
“The whole idea is to make people aware of what we have on offer down here on the water precinct.
“We want people know that they can get fresh seafood from the trawlers, hire a barbecue boat and wine and dine right on the waters edge.”
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
9am: Come down to the Trawler Wharf and see Saturday night’s catch being sold directly off the trawlers to the public as well as buskers, entertainment and demonstrations.
9.30am: Festival Opens at Trawler Wharf.
10am: Drift Tackle and Takeaway – Registration for kids fishing competition.
11am: Tweed Endeavour Cruises – Small River cruises and pelican feeding.
11am-2pm: Tweed Outrigger and Rowing Club – Boat showcase.
11am: Wake and Surf – Kite and displays.
Noon: Regatta – Lunch, DJs and busking in the park.
12.30pm: Ukelele Group – performance at Regatta.
1pm: Tweed Marina – Crab Show with Tweed Endeavour Cruises. Housesboats open to walk through, fishermen to chat to.
1.30pm: School Performance – Ivory Hotel.
2pm: Tweed Endeavour Cruises – small river cruises and pelican feeding.
2.30pm: Ivory Hotel – Chef’s Octopus Cooking , tasting and wine tasting.
3pm: Drift Tackle and Takeaway – Winners of Kids fishing competition announced.
5pm: Festival closes.
