A CO-ORDINATED effort to link new and regular events will see one of the largest Melbourne Cup weekend festivals occur in Cohuna’s history.
The 2016 Big Cohuna Festival will run for eight days, encompassing a variety of community celebrations and new initiatives.
In a first for the event, Gannawarra Shire Council will unite with community organisations, sporting groups, schools, and local businesses, with more than 20 events to occur throughout the district.
Celebrations begin on Thursday, October 27 with an opening prior to the premiere of St Mary’s Cohuna’s production of The Music Within, and will finish on Thursday, November 3 with the Cohuna District Hospital Auxiliary’s Oaks Day luncheon.
“A number of groups have come to us this year and asked to be on board,” festival co-ordinator, Jodie Hay said.
“We will be able to showcase in the one weekend what goes on in Cohuna throughout the whole year.”
The eight-day festival offers something for all tastes, with arts, tourism and wellbeing a strong focus.
Food will be a focus at the Wine and Cheese night on Friday, October 28, as well as the Grill and Chill event at Factory and Field on Sunday, October 30.
Yoga classes will occur in Garden Park on both Saturday, October 29 and Tuesday, November 1, whilst the launch of Cohuna’s Parkrun program will occur on the Saturday morning and wellbeing sessions throughout the morning.
Photographic workshops are planned on the Friday to Sunday, whilst a Strange Garden art program will run throughout the three-day weekend.
The Cohuna Fire Brigade will open its headquarters on the Saturday for people to explore, with the popular Cohuna Consolidated School fair and duck derby occurring during the evening at Garden Park.
An Indian cuisine and comedy show will wrap up Saturday’s celebrations, with a community market, a carp catching competition and turtle education program planned for Gunbower Creek on the Sunday.
A variety of tours will occur on the Monday, with a chicken and champagne cruise along the Gunbower Creek one of the ways to spend Melbourne Cup Day morning.
“We are encouraging all locals to be a tourist in the town during the festival,” Ms Hay said.
Visit the Cohuna website for details on the festival.
