Florries feature at annual festival
Aculinary dish unique to Horsham will receive a special tribute as part of Horsham’s Kannamaroo Festival this year.
The florentine, ‘florry’, or ‘florrie’, a Neri family crumbed creation traditionally involving steak, ham, cheese and occasionally garlic, will feature in a ‘Follow the Florry’ trail during the festival’s traditional Friday Firebrace Street party on November 24.
Festival spokeswoman Emma Hynes said Follow the Florry would involve restaurants offering up variations to the dish, specifically for the street party.
“What is more unique to Horsham than the beloved florry?” she said.
“Follow the Florry was born when a community member suggested something original and unique to Horsham.
“So a few restaurants have come up with some ideas for their own versions of the florry and it has led to a mini florry trail for the Friday night.
“It might evolve into a great competition with some crazy ideas for florrys. There has been talk of a mascot too, so we will see how it goes for this year. Hopefully people will support it.”
Miss Hynes also confirmed this year’s festival had extended ‘well and truly’ into Saturday, with a busy program scheduled for Sawyer Park.
“The Kannamaroo festival begins at 6pm in Firebrace Street on the Friday night and continues the next day at Sawyer Park,” she said.
“It has been great to be able to return the festival to its original location at Sawyer Park and to use facilities while enjoying the Wimmera River.
“Features on the Friday night apart from Follow the Florry, include a Movember Challenge, a light-projection show, a rock-climbing wall, live music and dancing.”
Miss Hynes said the Movember Challenge involved people turning up on the night and paying $5 to enter one of three competition categories – best and hairiest, ginger mo and designer mo.
“It is a fun challenge and all proceeds are donated to the Movember Foundation,” she said.
“But it’s probably the Saturday program that we are most excited about.
“From noon we have heaps of activities and food available at Sawyer Park.
“A few new items include a push bike toy run and best decorated bike competition, a fun run for juniors and adults, zorb balls and hobby-horse competitions.
“There will also be The Great Duck Race, skiing on the river, train rides, amusement rides and lawn games.
“Into the evening, from 6pm, there will be music on the soundshell stage.
“We invite people to come down with chairs or picnic rugs.
“Of course it will all finish with a fireworks show from Horsham City Oval.”
Miss Hynes said Uptempo would join the festival this year, opening a pop-up cafe from 1pm at Horsham Angling Club rooms, which will convert to a licensed wine and dine area from 5pm to 10pm.
She said the Kannamaroo committee invited anyone keen to get involved or volunteer on the day to contact the group by email at kannamaroo@ gmail.com or by calling 1300 668 315.
More information about the Kannamaroo Festival is on Facebook and website kannamaroo.weebly.com.au.