Festival fun will light up Drouin

The Gazette’s October bridal couple of the month was Tegan Walker and Joshua Pabst.

Tegan and Joshua’s wedding report and photograph appeared in the Gazette on October 30.

As bridal couple of the month, Tegan and Joshua have won a dinner for two at The Courthouse, Warragul valued at $100.

To share your wedding day photograph and story, visit thegazette.com.au or visit our Queen St office to pick up an easy to follow form.

There is no cost to share your wedding day joy with the local community.

The Drouin Lights Up Festival this Friday is set to be bigger than ever before, with an extended program expected to attract more than 6000 people to the town.

The festival has become a Christmas tradition in the town. It aims to bring Christmas cheer to the whole town, with the event including a competition for best decorated house for the festive season.

Drouin District Business Association vicepresident Craig Chugg said a focus had been to make sure activities were scheduled both sides of the railway line, with a market to be held at the Old Butter Factory for the first time. “It’s going to be big this year,” he said. “Fingers crossed for the long-range forecast of 36 and sunny, hopefully that won’t change.”

The fun in the central business district will begin at 4pm, with camel rides, horse and carriage, farm animals, bouncy jumping castle, blow up water slide, street performers and more.

The event will then progress to Civic Park for fireworks, open air cinema, food trucks and live music.

“Local band RollerToaster have been working with a business in Hallam, and they’ll have a full back line in the sound shell,” Mr Chugg said.

“Meg Doherty will perform with some of her students and also do her own solo set.

“We’ve also got about three or four solo acts, including a rapper. RollerToaster will then finish with a 45-minute set.”

Mr Chugg said the association had been able to provide an extended program thanks to generous support from local business, both financially and in services in kind.

“We’ve had heaps of support from businesses and we appreciate their time” he said.

“We were struggling to fit them onto our (promotional) poster. “Baw Baw Shire has also come on board.” The Drouin Lights Up Festival is an initiative of the Drouin District Business Association.

A gold coin donation will be appreciated to help cover costs for next year’s event.