Bonfire fun to light the night

WITH the winter chill in full effect, a popular event is returning to Cape Clear to bring its residents together and to warm them up.

The annual Winter Solstice Bonfire organised by the Community Hall Committee of Management will be held for the fifth time in late June.

“The main aim is really to have fun as a community,” said Cape Clear Recreation Reserve and Hall committee of management chair Evelyn Cannon.

“We’ll have our lighting of the bonfire just after 6pm because it’ll always be pitch black then, or soon after.

“We’ve got live music, food to purchase, hay bales to sit on. It’s a good hearty country evening out.”

The bonfire lighting will be preceded by a lantern parade, and attendees will be invited to participate and craft their own lanterns with materials provided on the evening.

Live music will be provided by local act Duck ‘n’ Weave, while a sausage sizzle, coin toss, silent auction and raffle will also be held.

Ms Cannon said the organising team is tailoring this year’s bonfire around a specific design,

“We’ve taken a bit of extra time and care this year to make sure the bonfire’s not just beautiful and large but we’re going to put some design into it,” she said.

“We’re hoping for it to be a boat heading towards Cape Clear.”

With the exception of children, entry will be via gold coin donation.

Funds raised will go towards maintaining the reserve’s facilities as well as putting on future events.

“It allows us to allow the community to use the hall throughout the year without worrying about the cost of hiring it out,” Ms Cannon said.

“We’ve put on holiday programs at no cost to the community. We’ve been open during intensely hot days, and we put on a sausage sizzle for the Rokewood Junction and Cape Clear fire brigades which all went back into the community.

“The bonfire event has really grown. We started with about 80 to 100 people. Last year we ran out of sausages and had a mad dash to get more.

“This year we’re ready for more.”

The bonfire is set for the Cape Clear Recreation Reserve, 5pm to 9pm on Saturday 22 June.