Old favourites and new attractions are hoping to draw crowds to this weekend’s Cobden Spring Festival.
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The traditional street parade will again be a highlight, combined with a new motor show, community breakfast and a celebration of “unsung heroes”.
Event co-ordinator Barbara Cowley said the community-focused event held on to its much-loved traditions, while also moving with the times.
“Things like the pet parade and the street parade we have had every year, they’re the old favourites,” she said.
“But we’ve also kept up with different technology and digital advances.”
It will Ms Cowley’s last Cobden Spring Festival after being involved in the event since its inception more than 20 years ago.
Fittingly, the 2017 festival theme is “celebrating the community” and will feature three days of family-friendly entertainment, beginning Friday evening with a junior fishing competition and bowls under lights.
A new community breakfast in the Curdie Street arcade will kick off Saturday’s festivities and committee member Kelvin White said businesses were encouraged to get on board this year, with street stalls being kept to a minimum.
“Apart from the Victoria Street children’s area between Curdie and Silvester streets all morning, there will be no street closures in the CBD until just before the time-honoured Fonterra Parade at noon,” Mr White said.
”With no additional stalls, it is hoped that businesses will get fully involved in the festivities by decorating their windows, offering bargains and running special activities.”
Cobden’s “unsung heroes” will be guests of honour in the street parade and the Mik Maks will return for performances in the RSL hall.
There will be no duck race at this year’s festival, but Mr White said organisers were bringing back an old-time crowd favourite.
The Curdie Cow Crap will encourage punters to buy a ticket for a randomly-allocated two-metre stretch along the parade route. Connie the cow will then make her way down Curdie Street and do her business, earning cash prizes for those who bought territory where the cow pats land.
On Sunday, the action will move to the town’s racecourse reserve, where live music, the pet show, dog jump, the gumboot toss and stalls operating from 10am. The fun run walk will also make a return.
“The new Cobden Motor Show will provide plenty of interest for those fascinated by anything that moves under petrol, diesel, steam or elastic band power,” Mr White said.
