Armidale's celebrated Autumn Festival, held since 1992, is getting a shake-up this year - with a change of name, a shorter parade route, and a more central location.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mike Creagan, Armidale Pipe Band drum-major and committee member, was on hand to explain the changes for the event on Saturday, March 16.
READ ALSO:
A change of name
The event will now be known as the New England Festival. "Autumn" Festival was a misnomer, particularly after last year's scorcher.
"Many people - tourists and locals - complained that it was still hot, and there were no autumn leaves," Mr Creagan said. "They thought we should have the event later in autumn, when we are sure leaves have changed, and it's a little cooler."
The committee considered changing the date to later in March or April - but that would clash with Easter, school holidays, and other weekend events. Changing the name seemed a more elegant solution.
"Overall," Mr Creagan said, "we want to tie in more events before and after the Saturday, and get more tourists to come to Armidale, stay for longer, and enjoy more events."
The "New England" name would, mayor Simon Murray said, make the event more regional.
A new event, the Colour New England Street Arts Festival, on April 6, will celebrate autumn, featuring visual artists, musicians, theatrical performers, and artisans.
A shorter parade
Mr Creagan said he was disappointed with the Saturday afternoon activities in previous years, compared to other festivals like Grafton's Jacaranda Festival, the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Festival, and the Glen Innes Celtic Festival.
"Armidale has a very good street parade, then everyone goes home," he said.
The Committee has made changes to engage more people - starting with the parade route, now 20 per cent shorter.
The parade now starts in Beardy Street, passes along Moore and Faulkner Streets, and finishes in Dumaresq Street. It omits Rusden Street, where crowds were thin. Shortening the route. Mr Creagan believes, will make for bigger crowds and more engagement.
The old route, Mr Creagan said, was a long way to walk in the full heat of the sun for pipe bands, children, and older people.
He himself wears the full Highland outfit of ostrich feather bonnet, tartan cloak, kilt, and sporran, with a dirk by his side, and a sgian-dubh in his hose.
He makes a striking figure - but he's wearing 12 kg of 16 oz wool, and it takes him 45 minutes to get dressed, even with his wife's help.
A change of venue
The Saturday afternoon events (other than rides) have been moved from Curtis Park to the Mall. The change of venue would make the Festival more central; offer seating and shade; and encourage shops and cafes to stay open.
In earlier years, Mr Creagan said, the Pipe Band played to "embarrassingly small" crowds in the park. This year, the pipe bands will run a quintet competition in front of the post office from 2.30; a massed pipe band march down Danger Street to the Mall at 4pm; and Scottish dances - which should have the crowds reeling.
More musical entertainment will be held at the Servies Club that evening, with pipers and the an Australian Army Band Concert from 6.30pm.
The UNE International Hub will hold Culture Fest in the Mall, with food stalls and cultural performances throughout the afternoon.
"These changes," Mr Creagan said, "are just a forerunner to yet another year of planning."
The festival committee is already devising ways of engaging more people for the 2020 festival.
School groups could put on sport, art, music, choir, and drama displays. Sporting and cultural groups could hold demonstrations or static displays, and give Armidale residents a chance to "try before they buy". International groups could hold more multicultural activities.
The committee also wanted to hold a talent quest, and bring back bonsai, car clubs, quilting, and the NEMAS mediaeval re-enactment group.
Next year, the pipe band plan to hold a full ceilidh, a Scottish concert, at the Servies Club in the evening.