Ficifolia Festival returns
With 2020 well underway and as February begins, so does the annual Ficifolia Festival in Drouin which is once again back for another year.
Every year the festival brings the township alive with colour, activities and excitement taking over Drouin throughout the weeklong celebration.
There will be many different events that take place throughout the week, with the always popular art show at the Drouin Football Club, presentations from the Drouin history group and many others.
The festival, named after the Ficifolia trees that line both sides of the Princes Way in Drouin, begins on February 9 and concludes on February 16, with the main attraction again being the ‘Party in the Park’ held on Saturday afternoon which will look to attract a huge crowd.
There will be 20 market stalls selling something for everyone, alongside the 10 food vendors that allow patrons a multitude of choices when it comes time to sit and enjoy the several music acts on offer. For the kids, there will be a petting zoo, a cupcake decorating area and many more activities to keep them busy throughout the afternoon.
The Anglican Parish of Drouin will also be holding a Guinness World Record attempt on the day, aiming to break the record of the greatest number of people to roll down a hill in one hour. The current record is held by the National Trust in the UK and stands at 570 regulation rolls, with the Drouin population hoping to smash that record on the 16th of February.
As day turns to night, artist QUEEN ROCKS will look to get the crowd moving alongside their supporting acts Joe Matera and Doonie Way providing some sounds for every age group in attendance. The Drouin-based family band Hunter Close will also be performing on the night.
A new event for this year will be The Amazing Race, which gives teams of 2-4 a chance to win some fantastic prizes on offer. The skate park will again also be a very popular viewing spot as some of the best local skaters take to the bowl to showcase their talent in the annual skate competition.
While this year there won’t be a parade through the main street of Drouin, there will be a walking snake parade through Civic Park, with many local businesses and sporting clubs encouraged to enter the parade as they make their way along the concrete path to the Keith Pretty soundshell.
The night will then conclude with a firework display around 9pm to help close the festival. For more information surrounding the festival, visit the website at www.ficifolia.org.au.