All the fun of the fair comes to Kilsyth on Sunday when the Kilsyth Festival makes a welcome return to Elizabeth Bridge Reserve in Durham Road after two years’ pandemic lay-off.
Organisers expect it will be bigger and better than ever, with many old favourites and a host of new features for all ages to enjoy.
The Festival is a collaboration between the Kilsyth Community Action Group and Friends of Elizabeth Bridge Reserve, with the benefit of a generous community grant from Yarra Ranges Council.
Organising committee chair Mike O’Meara said the event has been growing every year since it began in 2014.
“We like to foster a village feel. It has become a real ‘Kilsyth thing’. We have a marvellous team who have spent months planning and we are hoping this year will see an even larger turnout as people return to outdoor get-togethers,” he said.
“There’s no better place to reconnect than the beautiful Elizabeth Bridge Reserve.”
Over forty stalls will offer everything from crafts, to education including a ‘How to Compost’ workshop, to active involvement, as well as the chance to pick up an early pre-Christmas bargain along the way.
Montrose CFA will bring their fire truck and local recreation groups are lending their support. Five different sports will be offering fun and games for the young and young-at-heart.
A wildlife display will give the opportunity to touch and hold a wide range of animals as well as learn more about our fauna, and there will again be the popular dog club demonstration.
The committee is especially pleased with the increased participation of Japara Living and Learning Centre. For the first time the Festival will incorporate a Wool & Handicrafts Fair which will be held at Japara, just across the road from the Reserve.
“This is a great opportunity to learn more about what Japara has to offer our local community,” Mike said.
Japara is also welcoming Festival patrons to the Elizabeth Bridge house and gardens, where there will be pony rides, tile decorating and painting, a free food market by the Montrose Community Cupboard and a 100 mile foodie cooking demonstration.
Meanwhile, on the performance entertainment front, the fabulous Ruccis Circus group will perform their daring aerial act, and the ‘Showtime Spectacular’ centre stage will feature talented local artists, choristers and dancers. West African drummer, Kofi, returns by popular demand.
If all of this makes you a bit hungry or thirsty, there will be plenty of food stalls to make sure everyone is satisfied.
There is plenty of parking available, including the car park at 150 Cambridge Road (the former school site). Anyone who is driving in the area at the time is asked to be particularly mindful of pedestrian traffic.
