Fred's festival wraps up for another year

The Festival of Fisher’s Ghost has been enjoyed for another year, with thousands of residents from across Sydney and the Macarthur area flocking to Campbelltown for the celebration, which wrapped up on Sunday 11 November.

The festival is one of the longest running community events in Australia and the highlights this year included the vibrant Fisher’s Ghost Twilight Street Parade, which was held at the new time of 7pm, the thrilling Fisher’s Ghost Carnival and the colourful Fisher’s Ghost Street Fair.

For the first time this year, the Fisher’s Ghost Carnival featured a Quiet Carnival Hour on both Sunday mornings to help adults, youth and children with a disability to experience the fun with less noise, lights and sounds.

Thousands enjoyed the thrills and rides at the Fisher's Ghost Carnival.  

In another first for this year’s festival, Pokemon GO fans enjoyed a night of gaming at Catch ‘em all Campbelltown! at Mawson Park on Friday 9 November.

Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said Council was proud to host the 63rd annual festival and to offer a diverse program of events to appeal to the entire community.

“We had plenty of sunshine over both weekends of the festival and it was great to see so many people coming together to have fun and share the community spirit,’’ he said.

“One of the highlights for me was the Fisher’s Ghost Twilight Street Parade and I’d like to congratulate parade winners the NSW SES – Campbelltown Unit, who also took out the Best Themed Wheels and Hooves category. It was a great effort.

“Some of the loudest cheers during the parade were for the NSW SES – Campbelltown Unit who sailed down Queen Street in a very impressive pirate ship which was decorated with the Under the Sea theme and lights displays.’’ 

The twilight street parade had two themes this year – Light and Life under the Sea and The Legend of Fisher’s Ghost – and both were embraced by the parade participants and featured in their floats.

The Fisher’s Ghost Street Fair on Saturday brought Mawson Park and Queen Street alive with an eclectic mix of market stalls, a fun zone for families and roving and live entertainment.

The Fisher's Ghost Twilight Street Parade featured lots of colour,  music and fun.

“I had the great pleasure of participating in the Marsdens Law Group Fisher’s Ghost Fun Run again this year and it was a challenging course but an enjoyable way to get out and be active. I congratulate all of the other entrants who took part,’’ Cr Brticevic said.

Other popular festival events included Fisher’s Gig, which was headlined by Bootleg Rascal, The Vanns and Rackett, Fisher’s Kids which introduced youngsters to hip hop dance and the creative arts, and Fisher’s Flicks which featured the outdoor cinema screening of the original Ghostbusters movie.

“I’d like to thank everyone who devoted their time to making this year’s festival a huge success, to the parade participants, stallholders, sponsors and spectators, and I look forward to your continued support next year,’’ Cr Brticevic said.

“The fun is not entirely over because the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award Exhibition is on show at Campbelltown Arts Centre until Thursday 13 December.’’

 Our Fisher's Ghost mascot and Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic at the start of the Marsdens Law Group Fisher's Ghost Fun Run.

The 2018 Festival of Fisher’s Ghost Street Parade prize winners were:

First Overall ($800): NSW SES - Campbelltown Unit

Second Overall ($600): Highland Heroes

Best Themed Sporting Team ($200): Eschol Park Little Athletics

Best Themed Wheels and Hooves ($200): NSW SES – Campbelltown Unit

Best Themed Cultural Group ($200): Highlight Heroes

Best Themed Band ($400): Ingleburn RSL & Campbelltown Community Pipes & Drums

Best Themed Performance Group ($200): Millennium Dance Productions

Best Themed Community Organisation or Local Club ($200): Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown

Best School ($200): Claymore Public P & C

Best Themed Youth Band (all band members must be under 25 years) ($400): Australian Air League - Macarthur Wing

Best Themed Individual Entry ($100): Michael Trimboli

Best Use of Lighting ($200): Campbelltown and Region Filipino Community Council