Strawberries & Cherries Weekend Trail 2011
Strawberries & Cherries Countdown Commences
When: Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th November, 2011
Where: Bacchus Marsh Township, Various venues
Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 10am til 5pm. Saturday night 7pm til 10.00pm
Just six weeks out and counting - the not for profit Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association is pleased to announce that this year’s Strawberries and Cherries Weekend will be even bigger, better and brighter.
The Annual Strawberries & Cherries Weekend - Bacchus Marsh takes place on the third weekend in November each year, this year failing on the 19th and 20th of November. The festival celebrates the arrival of the strawberry and cherry season along the historic Avenue of Honour and throughout Bacchus Marsh.
Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association Chair David Durham says that in 2011 the Tourism Association has focused on continued event growth, whilst staying true to the spirit of previous years.
“Following the success of the 2010 event and the achievement of 5000 visitors over the course of that weekend, we had a tough job ahead of us. We are really thankful to again have a great group of sponsors on board, which means we can continue to provide many free family friendly activities for our local community and visitors alike as they meander along the strawberries & cherries event trail”
New features for the 2011 festival will include even more live music throughout the weekend, including the magnificent Australia Fair Grand Concert Organ. With a sound equivalent to a 20-piece band, the 7 metre long, 3 metre high organ will be a spectacular sight in the town centre on Sunday 20th November.
2011 also sees the introduction of the ‘Strawberries shuttle service’ with thanks to a grant from Moorabool Shire. The free festival mini-bus shuttle service will be available from 9am til 5pm over the festival weekend improving access to festival locations for community and visitors. A shuttle will appear every 15minutes at event locations, and seeks to link the entire town, from the V/Line Station, through to the town centre, the Avenue and the Bacchus Hill Winery. (Seats are not guaranteed and no bookings taken).
“We are very excited about the ability to link the town with the free shuttle service. We are fortunate to live in such a unique location; this beautiful valley with an abundance of fresh locally grown produce right at our doorsteps. It’s something we can often take for granted. We encourage our local community to come out on the festival weekend, and to make use of the shuttle and to experience the beauty of Bacchus Marsh through a tourist’s eyes”
The festival will feature an exciting blend of the old and new, with the return of the strawberries and cherries trail competition, with lots of new businesses on board, along with strawberry picking, cherry pip spitting competition, strawberry & cherry inspired menus, town centre entertainers and musicians, horse and carriage rides (Sunday only), the breathtaking Australia Fair Organ (Sunday only) jumping castle, wine and cider tasting, scones, sausage sizzles, live music, crafts, historic displays, and more to be announced shortly.
And last but not least, David Durham says that the Saturday night fireworks and music event will be back, and has evolved to ensure it is even more accessible and family friendly. “For a gold coin donation we encourage local families to come up to Bacchus Hill Winery from 6pm on Saturday night. Bring a picnic blanket and picnic basket (no BYO alcohol) and enjoy the views and music as the sun sets over the valley. At sunset we will see the night sky light up with a spectacular fireworks display”
The full Strawberries & Cherries Trail Map will be launched a fortnight prior to the festival. Keep an eye on the website for details as the full program continues to evolve
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