Mosman is known for many things. To historians, it is known for being the home of
Bungaree. To conservatives, it is known for being a rampant hotbed of
doctors' wives. To Channel 7 journalists, it is known for being awash with
not-so-desperate housewives. And since 2005, it has started becoming known for something else- namely, the
Mosman Festival, which this year will be running from the 23rd of October to the 1st of November.
The highlight of the 10-day
program is October 25's
Fair Day. From 10am to 4pm, the not-so-desperate housewives will watch in horror as Mosman Square and Village Green become a bustling mercantile hub, with dozens of stalls catering to thousands of commoners, few of whom will be dressed in Armani.
Meanwhile, at the nearby Allan Border Oval, the Fabulous Food Fair will be in full swing. Although the riff raff will delight in sampling the various offerings from the array of stalls, the doctors' wives will be aghast at the dearth of caviar and truffles. If they haven't done so already, this will be the point at which they scoop up their Chihuahuas in disgust, plonk them in their Gucci handbags, and summon their chauffeurs (or surgeon-husbands).
That will give the hoi polloi the chance to quietly enjoy the day's other two showpieces: the Pets Day Out and the Concert in the Park. The former, which will be on from 10am to 3pm, will involve a mix of parades and demonstrations, with some animal-oriented stalls thrown in for good measure. As for the latter, that will be divided into a couple of sessions. From 10am to 12pm, schools and community groups will be performing, while from 1-4pm, "semi-professional and professional acts" will be taking to the stage. One can only guess what Mosman Council means when it refers to "professional acts"- presumably, it is more likely to be talking about
Elton Jack than Elton John.
As for the rest of the festival, that will consist of exhibitions, open days, tournaments, literature evenings and other community events, as well as the
Photography Competition, to be held in the
Mosman Art Gallery from the 17th of October to the 8th of November.
For a full overview, please consult the
calendar.
