Quirky Queensland Events
www.melonfest.com.au
It has been almost one year since we moved to Brisbane from Newcastle. In our ten months here, we have discovered many wonderful restaurants, picturesque parks, and free events. Now might be a good time to go on a road trip and explore regional Queensland. After a bit of research, I have come up with three fun and quirky events in country Queensland to visit.
Goomeri Pumpkin Festival
www.goomeripumpkinfestival.com.au
The Goomeri Pumpkin Festival has grown, well like a pumpkin, since 1997 when 71 people rolled their pumpkins down Policeman's Hill. More than 600 pumpkin rollers took part in The Great Australian Pumpkin Roll in 2009.
This year's festival takes place on Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 8am. Goomeri is located approximately 235 kilometres north west of Brisbane in the Gympie Regional Council district.
There are heaps of other events to compete in besides The Great Australian Pumpkin Roll: Pumpkin Bowls, Pumpkin Pull, Pumpkin Pageant, and Pumpkin Power Shot Put to name a few.
Other activities include the Outback and Heritage Street Parade, market stalls, whip cracking, kid's rides, baby farm animals, camel rides, roving street performers, and plenty of pumpkin food.
Entry to the festival is free. Click
here for more information.
Jumpers & Jazz in July
www.jumpersandjazz.com
Jumpers & Jazz in July began in the winter of 2004 when a handful of trees were yarn bombed by the art community. Little did the guerrilla knitters know that their "tree project" would turn into a ten day art and music festival.
Located in Warwick, 130 kilometres south west of Brisbane, Jumpers & Jazz in July is held from July 19 until July 29, 2012.
The tree jumper exhibition is the centrepiece of the festival. Over 150 trees in the CBD are decorated with crochet, felting, weaving, or other materials like tea bags, milk cartons, and chocolate wrappers. Anyone can trim a tree: textile artists, painters, families, schools, and community groups; several jumpers arrive from overseas.
Jazz is the other main attraction at the festival. Many venues in Warwick, Allora, Killarney, and Stanthorpe feature live jazz music from some of the best jazz musicians around.
Families can enjoy the Killarney Bonfire Night and Fire Drums exhibition on Saturday, July 21 from 3 to 9pm; or the Craft Market and Picnic in the Park on Sunday, July 29 from 9am until 3pm.
To view the full festival program, click
here.
Chinchilla Melon Festival
www.melonfest.com.au
Chinchilla, the 'Melon Capital' of Australia, is located approximately 300 kilometres west of Brisbane. The Chinchilla Melon Festival is held biannually with the next festival taking place from February 14 to 17, 2013.
The first festival was organised in 1994 by local producers and businessmen. It is now an internationally recognised event.
Some of the messy but fun activities include melon skiing, melon bungy, melon bullseye, melon tossing, melon ironman, melon eating, and pip spitting.
Other activities include a parade, street market, poet's breakfast, and a free family concert.
Click
here for more melon madness.
