The Tarra Festival is now entering the 45th year, making it one of the longest running festivals in Victoria. Running from 13th to the 18th of April this year, last year’s street parade drew over 10,000 spectators with over 18,000 attending all the events, an amazing result for a region with a population of approximately 5,100.
A major fundraising initiative for local community groups, last year’s event raised over $50,000 which was invested back into the community. More than just a street parade, over 50 events are held over the week and it takes over 2000 volunteer man hours to drive the event to be as successful as it is.
Events include the markets at Yarram and Port Albert with a massive Monday Monster Market at the Yarram Showgrounds. Pre-Street parade entertainment on the Saturday morning will include the trackless train rides, merry go round, fairy floss, face painting, balloons and more all provided free. The parade itself will this year see horses back into the mix, there will also be alpacas, goats and sheep and more for the first time in over a decade. The tank featured last year will be making a return and tank rides can be had afterwards. After the street parade a host of family activities will be hosted at the recreation reserve by the Lions Club including petting zoos, pony rides, Venomwise Snakes, tug ‘o’ war, jumping castles, Easter Egg hunts and more. Sports are also well covered with football, netball, golf, tennis and bowls tournaments being held and boating/yachting activities over the entire festival.
On Saturday afternoon, local groups such as the CFA, SES, Historical Society, Men’s Shed and dancing groups will be holding interactive demonstrations. Saturday night will see the 30th reunion of Ragwort and Thistle at the Woodside Hall with bush dancing. Vintage cars and trucks will be shown during the street parade and will also feature in a drive/rally from Yarram to Port Albert on Sunday. On the Sunday, first up though is Pancakes in the Park at Yarram, come along and grab some pancakes or bacon and eggs before heading out to the day’s events. The “Dreaming Space Multicultural Experience” in Port Albert features a Harlem Jazz Duo, circus acts, juggling lessons, monster bubble blowing, multicultural food vans, the Wellington Shire Library will also be hosting talks and readings by a leading author. In Foster on the Sunday is “Be Enchanted” with sound and crystal healing workshops and there is also a social dance at the Woodside Hall that evening.
Along with the Monday Monster Market, the “Really Living Expo” at the recreation reserve pavilion focuses on sustainability, natural therapies and enjoying life in harmony with the environment. There will be stalls, practitioners, workshops, talks and some fantastic food. Performers will include a 100-person drumming circle, Bec Bone and the Acquaintances and Steve Davis playing the only known quartz crystal harp in Australia. Healing tents will be on site so you can try different healing therapies such as reiki, sound healing and massage.
There are also a lot of live music and Easter events on with Woolworths hosting an Easter bonnet parade and lots of impromptu Easter egg hunts. As an example, last year over 7200 Easter eggs were hidden throughout the Tarra Festival for inquisitive visitors to find. Bands, drumming troupes, dance groups and more will be performing across the seven days, bring your dancin’ boots because there will be several interactive dances held including rock & roll dancing.
The theme for this year’s event is “The Dreaming” inspired by the stories of the traditional land owners, the Gunaikurnai people. To quote from the event organisers – “When you’re interpreting the theme for the Tarra Festival this year, you’re not, by any means, restricted to the Gunaikurnai dreaming stories, though it would be terrific if you did reflect on the traditional land owners. It’s important to be respectful of the traditional land owners in this area but you are free to interpret the theme as you wish. For instance, you could consider what “The Dreaming” actually means to indigenous people – it’s about moving from a dream to reality or material form and as such the process of creation, and about the passing on of moral and cultural values. Not only historically but “everywhere” as the Dreaming is timeless. This idea exists within most spiritual and religious groups, indeed it exists within in each person as we move from our dreams to creating those as a reality guided by the values taught to us. So, you could look at that the Dreaming from a Gunaikurnai perspective, a more generalised indigenous perspective or even your own perspective.”
This year’s festival is going to be a lot of fun, and with so much on, there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Buses will be running over the entire festival to move people between Yarram and Port Albert plus additional buses each day from Foster and Woodside.
For further information and more detailed program times, please visit www.tarrafestival.com.au
