Dahlia spectacular set to bloom

THE Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival will flower again this year for its fiftieth anniversary, albeit smaller than what many in the community are used to.

Festivities will begin this month with the Dahlia Spectacular Show, held on 19 March at the Eaglehawk Senior Citizens Hall from 8am to 6pm.

Festival committee member Margaret Ashman said 10 growers were so far locked in to display at the event, but entries are still open for people to join.

“We’re very, very excited to have a dahlia show,” she said.

“Dahlia growers from all over Victoria will be coming with their spectacular dahlias, it will be absolutely gorgeous.

“Some of the growers have been ringing me saying ‘oh I’m only a small grower, I’ve only got 250 dahlias’ and one man has 1200 dahlias, so hopefully with the way things are going, they’ll all be able to come.”

Despite the festival being cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Ashman said about 20 people had already volunteered their time to get it up and running on a smaller scale this year.

The Spectacular Show will also play host to the Dahlia Society of Victoria’s rural championship and a plant market.

The fun is set to continue with the Eaglehawk Family Day scheduled for 20 March, featuring kids’ activities at Canterbury Gardens, while the Mulga Bill Writing Award is also up for grabs this month for poets and short story writers across the country.