Preparations began Monday morning for the 2018 Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival, which kicks off on Wednesday, January 17.
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Festival Committee President Steve Mepham and a handful of volunteers gathered by the Big Lamb, helping to erect the structures that will house craft markets, dining facilities and live music for nine days, wrapping up on Sunday, January 28.
Mr Mepham said he hoped the storms that caused havoc with last year’s festival wouldn’t return. Strong winds tore down several festival structures, but the festival was able to continue with the help a “massive community effort,” Mr Mepham said.
“We do tend to get a bit of wind at this time of year, but in my 15 years with the festival that was probably the third time that we’ve had a major issue with it.”
Mr Mepham said the committee was considering installing concrete slabs and tie-down points at some point in the future.
“The forecast is looking pretty good this year,” he said.
This year’s festival will host a collection of classic caravans, including vintage Bonwoods and early Viscounts and Valiants, which will join the usual showcase of military vehicles at the Guyra showground. These will feature in a parade down Bradley Street on Saturday, January 27.
“It’s fairly ironic,” Mr Mepham said. “We started off with a Bonwood caravan and a barbecue on the corner over 30 years ago, and now we’re having the classic caravans come through – it’s come full circle.”
The festival will also feature nightly musical performances in time for dinner.
“People can come down, eat a lamb dinner and chill out with live music for a couple of hours every night of the week,” Mr Mepham said.
The model train display will move from the Masonic Hall to the Presbyterian Hall, right opposite the festival grounds. Lastly, a trophy is up for grabs in the “Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Sheep” competition.
“We encourage locals to build a sheep and bring them down here to display,” Mr Mepham said. “Bald Blair School has taken that trophy the last two years, so it’d be good to see someone give them a run for their money.”