Weather warning forces festival to reschedule

Severe weather warnings for the weekend saw the Drouin Lights Up Festival committee reschedule the event.

The event will kick off again on Friday, December 22 at 4pm in the main street of Drouin, continuing to Civic Park from 8pm with Christmas movie ‘The Grinch’, Christmas tree lighting and fireworks.

Drouin Lights Up Festival committee member Andrew Dumergue said with stories coming in thick and fast about the severity of the weather, an emergency meeting was held and decision made to postpone the event.

“Our first thought was of the safety aspect to the public and hired animals,” he said.

“Our other concern was that we have had great support from local businesses, many of them being our wonderful sponsors.

“Plus lots of hours have gone into this years’ event with our budget almost tripling from last year, so we wanted to give our sponsors and event itself it a chance to shine.”

Mr Dumergue said the committee had been overwhelmed by the support of its decision, with positive messages received on the event Facebook page.

He said the committee hoped the change of date will attract even more people.

“With schools and work finishing on the same day, it will allow families to come down for what it promising to be a great event,” Mr Dumergue said.

While the Drouin Primary School twilight market and fete had to be cancelled, the festival will go ahead with its original program on the revised date.

Mr Dumergue said the primary school would reconfirm the rescheduled date for its market and fete early in the new year.