For many grey nomads, the quirky, educational, entertaining, and often inspiring ‘events’ held in so many rural communities are an integral part of the Big Lap experience.
And, of course, for those communities, many of which are facing difficult times, the annual show, shindig or festival, is a huge morale booster that can also deliver significant economic benefits.
But traditional events in Australia have been having a tough time.
The devastating impact of the Covid pandemic, a struggle finding committee volunteers, and changing tastes in entertainment, have left many events teetering on the edge. At the very least, most had to be postponed for at least a year due to pandemic restrictions on public gatherings … and some simply haven’t made it back.
Sadly, not all Outback events are as popular as Birdsville’s Big Red Bash PIC: Matt Williams
Sadly, the Geelong Highland Gathering has just become one of those. First held in 1857, it attracted thousands of people annually to the Victorian town, but has now been permanently cancelled due to difficulties in attracting ‘new blood’ to its organising committee.
Other iconic festivals have faced similar problems. The Dirt n Dust Festival in the Outback Queensland town of Julia Creek looked to have been held for the last time a few years ago … an apparent victim of the pandemic, rising insurance costs, and declining volunteer numbers.
However, determined locals managed to resurrect the event last year, albeit in a slimmed-down format. It will be held again this year from April 21-23.
And it’s not just been the small towns that have felt the pain. This year, Oktoberfest Brisbane, Australia’s largest German festival announced it was time to say ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ after 15 years of pretzels, bratwurst and beer.
“The past few years have brought about the biggest challenges our industry has ever faced.” organisers said in a statement announcing the end Festivals fight back of the festival.
Some events though have found innovative ways to adapt and survive. In WA, the organisers of the Donnybrook Food and Wine Festival and the Donnybrook Apple Festival have this year combined to create the ‘Donnybrook Festival’ which will bring buskers, market stalls, local wine and beer tastings, and much, much more on April 8.
While many traditional local shows struggle to draw a crowd, other – more Instagram-friendly – events are having no such problems. In Queensland’s Scenic Rim, the third annual Kalbar Sunflower Festival attracted 12,000 people … with another 17,000 unable to come due to council number restrictions.
As the events calendar settles down again, it is clearly going to be more important than ever that the public supports the many hundreds of traditional, and quirky, local events that may struggle to re-establish themselves … events that are part of the Australian heritage, and events that bring so much joy to so many local communities.
The Grey Nomads website is in the process of rejuvenating the Events listings on its pages. We ask you to have a look here to see if there are some events that you might be able to support – and enjoy – as you travel.
And please email us here to let us know of any events you feel should be listed as we update and upgrade the pages.
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
We stay away from events, too many people & Covid-19 is still lurking around with lots getting infected, some dying.
Its just not worth the risk even if both of us are up to date with booster shots.
I can understand a bit your concern..but..
Covid..like the Flu is here to stay.
You can still go to festivals and events enjoy yourselves and stay safe by being a bit smart with the precautions that we all now aware of..or should be.
Have fun, take care..Cheers.
Yes I agree with you to a certain extent but Coronavirus has killed 20,000 people in this country over the past three years. Influenza hasn’t had that kind of impact on the population.
Crowds are classic situations to get infected.