Taking it to the streets

Fringe Mount Gambier kicks off this Friday with a party & a parade

It’s party time in Mount Gambier this weekend as Fringe Mount Gambier hits the streets with the return of FRINGELAND and the opening night STREET PARTY for the first time since 2019 as Mount Gambier’s CBD springs to life, hopefully in a sea of blue.

The 2023 theme is INTO THE DEEP BLUE and artistic program manager Louise Adams is encouraging the community to dress up or wear their blues for this Friday night’s Street Party, as well as embracing the blue theme in their business, school, home and community group, with prizes on offer for those who fully embrace the 2023 theme.

“We want a wave of blue across the city,” Louise said.

“It will be fantastic to have FRINGELAND return to Thugi / Cave Garden, with Fringe frivolity spilling out across the streets for the opening night Street Party.”

The return of the STREET PARTY this Friday, sees the reincarnation of the popular Fringe Parade, at 5.30pm, which will wind its way from the street into the Cave Garden (Thugi), led by parade director Gavin Clarke and fellow musicians and marching bands, before the official Welcome to Country and Ceremony, and a special performance by the Koondoom Yarkeen Dancers, from Portland.

FRINGELAND and the STREET PARTY will be showcasing delicious street and festival food offerings, pop up bars showcasing regional breweries, wines, spirits and delicious cocktails, craft and makers stalls and a twilight market and Louise said businesses were embracing the return to the full Fringe Mount Gambier experience.

And, as it always is, the entertainment will be diverse and high-octaine with plenty of roving artists and street performers, with tarot, face painting and tattoos, dance and acrobatics, kids amusements, Bumbles the Clown, high-flying aerial performances, Bubblegum Circus, juggling artists, drag performers and fire shows.

The FRINGELAND main stage will wow audiences with acclaimed drumming ensemble The Junkyard Beats and their ‘Junk Orchestra’; internationally acclaimed Flanagan Collective (UK) bringing big beats and soul with ‘Gods Gods Gods’;

incredible feats of circus, comedy and antics with ‘The Big Balloon Show’, Clara Cupcakes and fire performer Timmehtek. Meanwhile, DJs and music acts will ensure the vibes at FRINGELAND continue unabated across Friday and Saturday,

including UK’s Laurie Black, Argentina world music act The New Monos, emerging funk punk pop rock trio The Birds are Spies from Adelaide, The Rob Howe Band bringing the 80s pop rock, emerging hip hop artists including Prosper,

Hundo Millis, and Tripp Balency, and Indie vibes from The Stokes and Tyrell Bonney. Fringe Mount Gambier runs from March 24 to April 2 with around 60 events, both free and ticketed, on the 2023 program.

Head to www. fringemountgambier.com for more details and to book your place at the shows of your choice. Lifestyle1 is showcasing two shows with a strong local flavour having chatted with their creators.

Kyra Sykes is featured on this page and Fi & Frenz and their show are also featured in this issue.