Confusion has dogged Port Macquarie’s up and coming Wintersun dance, music and hot rod car festival.
Some accommodation houses and businesses in Port Macquarie have said people making bookings and inquiries have been puzzled by publicity suggesting that Wintersun will remain in Tweed Heads.
But don’t be fooled, the 10-day rock festival is on its way here from June 3-13 and is set to be bigger, better and funkier than ever before, organisers said.
The event up north is dubbed the Cooly Rocks On Festival and is a mere spin-off of the true blue event which is definitely coming to Port.
David Campbell, who is currently the owner of The Water’s Edge Boutique Hotel Country Comfort Port Macquarie, was heavily involved in Wintersun in past years.
He said it’s one of the most exciting gigs to hit the region, and hopes we have the numbers to ‘bring the house down’ with great music, cars and more.
He said the reason the ‘Cooly’ festival has been kick-started up north was due to the past success of Wintersun, so they “are trying to do something in its place”.
But if Port can pull the crowds, he said we are in for a non-stop party and a musical bonanza beyond anything previously experienced. Jan Morris from Mid Pacific Hotel also confirmed that some people making bookings had questioned whether Wintersun was still on its way.
But there’s no doubt about it – Port Macquarie is ready to set the pace for the biggest rockabilly and hot rod festival.
The countdown to the 10-day Wintersun festival has really kicked in and, with weeks to go, the event is already attracting widespread interest, with more than 2800 bookings lodged by local accommodation providers.
Council’s Tourism Manager Linda Hall has said, ‘”Based on the information we currently have available to us, bookings are strongest over the June long weekend period when a lot of the major Wintersun activity will take place.
“However, based on travel patterns of many consumers these days, we are expecting a flurry of booking activity the last two weeks leading up to the event,” she said.
The event is expected to generate more than $25 million for the local economy and attract more than 60,000 visitors.
Wintersun, which is being held in NSW for the first time in 15 years, will roll out across three key venues in Port Macquarie — Regional Stadium, Westport Park and on the Town Green.
An astounding list of entertainers headline this year’s festival including Nick Curran, The Delltones, Johnny Devlin, Issi Dye, Col Joye and Ian McNamara, Lonnie Lee, Normie Rowe and, direct from New York for their only Australian show, The Pretty Things Peepshow.
More than 1500 pre-1974 hot rods, custom and classic cars will cruise into the region for the event.
The Coffee Club Wintersun Street Parade will be a highlight of the festival which will fill the streets with colour and music on Saturday, June 11.
The parade will kick off at 9.30am, starting from the top of Clarence Street and running down to Short Street.
Leading the front of this parade will be a cavalcade of stars in classic cars, followed by the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, then floats and bands from the Wintersun Festival.
“There’s not much else to say about the parade, only that it will be a huge spectacle,” boasted organiser Barry McNamara. CountryLink has also come on board and will bring the first ever Rock – Railer train to Wauchope.
Travellers will be able to enjoy live onboard entertainment on June 10.
Residents should also brace ,for road closures which will be advised in the lead-up to the event. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Events NSW worked in partnership to secure the Wintersun Festival from the Gold Coast in Qld where it was held for 23 years. It was also announced last week that the next Wintersun is set to be held in Coffs Harbour next year.
All the Wintersun action can be found at www.wintersun.org.au and www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au
To book accommodation for Wintersun, contact the Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre on 6581 8000 or visit the website www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au.
To book with Mid Pacific Hotel, go to www.motelmidpacific.com.au
