There’ll be something for everyone at next weekend’s 25th annual Rotary Eltham Town Festival.
The two-day festival is organised by the Rotary Club of Eltham in partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council.
Newly-elected Mayor Karen Egan, who will officially open the festival, said “thousands were once again expected to attend over the weekend of 10 and 11 November.”
“The festival has branded itself as ‘Bringing the Community Together’, and over the years it has more than lived up to this claim. I expect this to again be the case this year,” Egan said.
There are heaps of events lined up: free rides for smaller kids, a Hot Rod display, a mobile farm with star guests Charlie the pig and Goaty the Goat, and the Eltham Woodworkers’ annual display – with items up for sale.
There are free sporting activities on Have a Go oval on Sunday and free heritage bus rides to the miniature trains at Eltham Lower Park. Other fun attractions include a scooter and skateboard competition
There are three music stages, and a special feature of the festival is its encouragement of aspiring local musicians via the Youth Stage.
Local schools and cultural groups can also showcase their talents on the Community Stage. A fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday night.
Check out the Council marquees. There’s the Chill Out zone provided by the MetroAccess team at Council together with Plenty Valley Library and Living and Learning Nillumbik; advice on how to get involved in decorating a cubby for the Eltham North Adventure Playground, and lessons on making a glass mug to help reduce the number of disposable cups going into the waste.
Children are invited to work with local artist Elizabeth Bromley to make Christmas decorations to take home, and which also get hung in Eltham shop windows.
Over 30 community organisations will showcase their various activities, holding fundraising stalls or sponsoring events. Festival goers can browse through scores of stalls.
“Sponsors include local businesses and the festival showcases their goods as well as providing an economic spin-off for the rest of the town including cafes and restaurants,” Egan said.
The festival runs on Saturday 10 November from 12pm to 3pm and on Sunday 11 November from 9am to 5pm in three locations: Alistair Knox Park, Eltham Central Oval and the Eltham Skate Park.