Bruce Highway traffic through Childers was replaced on Sunday with the magnificent sights, sounds and tastes of the 2019 Childers Festival.
Perfect weather was the ideal backdrop for the annual festival and sunshine ensured everyone was in a great mood as they celebrated some of the wonderful cultures of the Bundaberg Region.
More than 300 stalls and colourful festivities attracted thousands of people from not only the Bundaberg Region but across Australia and from around the world for the multicultural event.
Deputy Mayor Bill Trevor said there was something very special about the festival that stopped the traffic on the Bruce Highway, and said he hadn’t missed a festival in the 24 years it's been operating.
“The attraction is the romance of walking down the national highway with no vehicles,” Cr Trevor said.
“The crowd is just brilliant here today, there really is something here for everyone,” he said.
“It started more than two decades ago with so much diversity and it’s nice to see that so prominent once again today.
“And what a day it has turned out to be. The weather is just fantastic and it’s great to see so many families here today.”
Mayor says Childers Festival second to none
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey opened the Childers Festival saying the food, culture, diversity and entertainment was second to none.
“There are so many visitors that come to this – the Childers Festival draws the crowds from all around,” Mayor Dempsey said.
Mayor Dempsey said the 2019 Childers Festival wouldn’t have been successful without the dedication from a variety of volunteers from around the Bundaberg Region.
“It’s the volunteers who help make this festival run so smoothly,” he said.
“So enjoy your day, fill your belly and fill your heart with what our region has to offer.”
Food and entertainment for everyone
Just Rock, Rock and Roll Club Bundaberg member Ted Munro said the traffic on the highway may have stopped but he was still moving at 89 years of age as he was about get his groove on with the dance group.
It wasn’t just rock and roll entertaining the crowd on the Bruce Highway the piping-hot food stalls served up delicious cuisine from around the globe, as well as locally.
Everybody chipped in
The Childers Scout group took the opportunity to put on their aprons and cook up a sausage sizzle to help them raise funds for their organisation.
Childers Scouts leader-in-charge Bob Edmiston helped scout Jarra Holton and Cub Jesse Holton serve the festival goers a tasty Australian favourite.
“Today is one of our biggest fundraisers for Scouts,” Bob said.
“We helped set up yesterday and the children really enjoy being part of the Childers Festival.”
Some of the Scouts were as keen as the mustard they were putting on the sausages, but Bob said the group always needed more adults to join the group as Scout leaders.
One thing about the 2019 Childers Festival was for sure, people had their fill of festival sweet and savoury delights and left with satisfied bellies and full hearts after day in the amazing Bundaberg Region’s winter weather.
- 25 performers also wowed the crowds at Childers Festival
