Family focus for Sunshine Festival

The Geraldton Greenough Sunshine Festival Committee has locked in plans for the most family-friendly festival in years.

This year’s festival, from October 4 to 12, places a whole new emphasis on family- friendly fun with plenty of free activities, games, activities and entertainment.

The bulk of entertainment will occur in Geraldton’s Maitland Park to ensure a hive of activity in one setting.

Festival chairman Julian Canny said the committee had strived to create an “intimate” family feel for the festival.

“The aim this year is to create the jam-packed family festival atmosphere that people love," Mr Canny said.

“And this year Maitland Park will act as the main festival precinct with most of the events happening across throughout the park, including some of GFests exciting programming."

Highlights on the festival program include the MMG Float Parade on Saturday October 4, which this year places a new emphasis on individual participants and those in Gophers as well as the traditional float entries to create a colourful carnival atmosphere.

Mr Canny envisages this year’s the Iluka Sky Show would draw large crowds to Maitland Park and invites everyone to head down early and to bring a picnic blanket. The show starts at 7.30pm on Sunday October 12.

He said the fireworks spectacular would lure people of all ages and backgrounds.

“The fireworks show plays a key role in the festival’s bid to celebrate the tight knit social fabric of the community,” he said.

Families will be spoilt for a choice of entertainment with everything from the Family Fun Day at Maitland Park on Saturday the October 4 to the Toll Truck Pull, CGG Community Safety Day, Stirling Central Brass on the Grass, Chapman Animal Pet Parade, Lets Party Little Miss and Master Sunshine Pageant, Gunadoo Family Fun Day, Tomato Festival, Colour Décor Art Pavement Competition, PCYC Teddy Bears Picnic, Festival Goes Country, SciTech Science Roadshow and more.

The Geraldton foreshore will also see some of the action with the ever-popular 21st Dragon Boat Classic, the CWA sandcastle competition, Act Belong Commit Have-A- Go Community Drumming, CGG Sand Sculpture workshops and the Inline Hockey Association sessions.

“The festival has been 56 years in the running and never fails to bring us together as a community,” Mr Canny said.

“This year’s festival, with its emphasis on one main festival precinct and providing an intimate family feel, promises to be particularly special.

“I’d encourage everyone, young and old, to come and enjoy the myriad of entertainment and celebrate together what makes our wonderful region so special.”

The full festival program can be found on our website www.sunshinefestival.com.au