The Kinglake Country Fair returned from its hiatus with stunning success, delivering a fun-filled day for families at the Kinglake Memorial Reserve on March 17th.
The Fair enjoyed fine conditions with plenty of sun and mild temperatures, seeing crowds in excess of 1,500 pass the gates. 53% of attendees came from within the Kinglake Ranges, while a whopping 46% visited from all throughout Victoria, with some even coming from New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, and a couple of families from overseas.
Ellimatta Youth Inc. emceed the main stage all day providing music from bands such as Jasper Kaye Hicks and the Ellimatta Jam Knights, Paul William Ray and his students Kylah, Molly, and Cherri, Mitchell Tougher on the guitar and didgeridoo, Mia Gray, Indisposed, and Avenues End.
Attendants enjoyed the cake eating competitions and the one-armed tradie competition throughout the day, with a massive highlight being the King and Queen of the Mountain Races in the afternoon. Both races were full with contestants charging down the hill from Frank Thomson Reserve with homegrown potato sacks kindly donated by Bruce Jarvie and Geoff Exton. Local of Kinglake Jeff Stephenson took home the King of the Mountain trophy, winning at a nail-biting finish, while visitor from Melbourne Jess took home a convincing victory in the Queen of the Mountain Race.
There was plenty for families to enjoy, with jumping castles and carnival rides, pony rides, petting zoo, snake-handling, Ranges Run obstacle course and more. The market showcased local produce and craft, as well as offering space for community groups such as the Kinglake Historical Society, Kinglake Ranges Arts, Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House, LandCare, and many others to interact with Fair-goers.
Old fashioned sack races, egg-and-spoon races, and tug o’ war continued throughout the day with kids wearing themselves out while their parents relaxed in the shelter of the Chill Out Zone marquee kindly donated by the Kinglake Rotary Club.
The food vendors were a hive of activity all day with attendees enjoying a variety of food trucks, both local and out-of-town.
The grounds were busy from opening at 10:00 until closure at 5:00. The Kinglake Country Fair Committee has announced that the Kinglake Country Fair will return in 2019, committing to delivering an event that celebrates the Kinglake Ranges and offers a place for visitors and residents to spend quality time with their families.
The Kinglake Country Fair Committee would like to thank its major partners Integrity Real Estate and Mountain Events for organising the event. It would also like to thank Platinum Sponsors Ellimatta Youth Inc., the FReeZA program, and Murrindindi Shire; King and Queen of the Mountain Sponsors Bendigo Bank; Gold Sponsors Kinross Farm, Sunlight TLC Aged Care, Kinglake Forest Adventures, and Paul McLeish from AM or PM Services; Bronze Sponsors Andrew Frith of Custom Roller Shutters, Kinglake Pub, and Pheasant Creek Stockfeeds and Supplies; and other contributors Cheeky Fox Retreat, Heath Morehu, and Paradiso of Kinglake.
For updates on the Kinglake Country Fair in 2019, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and on our website kinglakecountryfair.org.au.