Spectacular festival lights up the Bend

A DAZZLING show of light, fire, and live music brought Teesdale to life last weekend.

Twilight festival and lantern parade, Live@Turtle Bend, attracted 700 community members from the Teesdale and Bannockburn area from 6pm to 10pm on Saturday, 4 December.

Committee member Claire Whiteley is one of eight “proud” volunteer organisers of the event, alongside Golden Plains Shire mayor Gavin Gamble.

Ms Whiteley said it’s the 13th year the “unique” family event has been run.

“One of the highlights was an awesome flame show with juggling and hula hoops. It was really special and the children were just awestruck, sitting down the front,” she said.

“All the live music was terrific, and we had about 150 people in the lantern parade, mostly school children, their parents and teachers.

“The parade was really spectacular. There were giant brolgas, and a giant turtle which took four people to carry it, and some of the younger children had smaller lanterns that all looked really pretty.”

Following the parade, the lanterns were tied up around the Turtle Bend Reserve precinct, providing pops of coloured light for the rest of the evening.

Ms Whiteley said local food stalls were popular, including an Indian ice cream tent, the local Bannockburn Men’s Shed’s sausage sizzle, twisted potatoes, and churros.

“The community has really embraced Live@Turtle Bend and it’s something we’re really proud of,” she said.

“Especially because of COVID-19 restrictions, people have been really hanging out to get together and do something like this.”