New heritage street parade and market to delight all ages

It’s a popular Sunday morning pastime all over the world – wandering around community markets, looking over a variety of unique and interesting hand-made items, chatting with the local artisans and enjoying the laid-back weekend community ‘vibe’.

 The nine-day Big Skies festival will conclude with a Heritage Street Parade and Sunday markets, brought to you by the Dalby Chamber of Commerce.

President of the Dalby Chamber of Commerce Rohan May said that the day starts at 10am with a colourful street parade showcasing Dalby’s rich rural heritage.

“The parade will feature horse-drawn carriages, cultural street dancers, a pipe band, heritage machinery, local community groups and custom street vehicles,” he said.

“The markets will run until 2pm so you can browse around a range of gift items, handmade and country crafts, comic collections and embroidery, not to mention some unusual and colourful jewellery and woodwork items.

“All this will take place while enjoying live music provided by one of our very own bands Point Blank at the Russell Tavern, plus upcoming musical talent Ziyra.”

There will be food available including a sausage sizzle provided by the Dalby Yumborra Scout Group. The kids can have their faces painted then enjoy the petting zoo, then tire them out at the free jumping castle.

Cunningham Street in the town’s centre will be closed from 7:30am.

On Friday 3 May, avid golfers are called to get their teams together for the 3-person ambrose golf day at the Dalby Golf Club, with check-in from 9:30am, BBQ at 10am and shotgun start at 11am.

Solo players are welcome to contact the club and find a team to join. It will cost you $25 per player with carts available to hire at $35. To register, call the Dalby Golf Club on 4662 2259.

Back to the subject of handcrafts, the Chinchilla Patches & Piecemakers will be holding a relaxing sewing day on 2 May in Fuller Place, in the heart of the CBD.  Bring your own work-in-progress or take the opportunity to finish that item that may have been sitting in the cupboard for a year… or five.

This will be a casual day running between 9am-3pm so pop in for some, or all of the day and enjoy morning or afternoon tea for a gold coin donation.

On the same day, the Chinchilla Historical Museum’s Sights and Sounds of Yesteryear will have the engines of years gone chugging and churning.  Wander around the shady museum grounds on foot or on one of the many miniature trains being showcased on their very own purpose-built track.

The Sights and Sounds of Yesteryear will run from 10am-4pm on Thursday 2 May.

Not too far away, the creative quilters in Wandoan will be displaying some of their best work at the Wandoan Cultural Centre from 3 – 4 May.

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh is thrilled that so many community events have been scheduled to take place during the Big Skies Festival this year.

“Council has organised a variety of community events leading up to our signature event A Day on the Plain, plus our towns have been very supportive in growing this event to include so many additional community activities, to be enjoyed by both locals and visitors to our region,” he said.

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