Carnival is ‘Back in Black’-wood

Carnival is ‘Back in Black’-wood

By Lachlan Ellis

After a two-year hiatus thanks to the COVID pandemic, the Blackwood Woodchop & Easter Carnival is finally back on, and this year it will celebrate its 120th anniversary.

On Saturday 16 April, Blackwood will be open to one and all, with a huge variety of fun activities in store, beginning with the traditional parade.

Featuring striking costumes and floats, as well as brass bands, the parade will head down to the Lerderderg River and “the prettiest sportsground in Victoria”.

Along with the woodchop, the day will feature a plethora of free games, including tug-o-war, gumboot throwing, and novelty races, not to mention the food stalls, artisan workshops, and local produce that will be available for all to enjoy.

Brendan Hehir is President of the not-for-profit Blackwood Progress Association, and said it would be exciting to have the Carnival back in town for the first time since 2019.

“The town’s been incredibly quiet over the pandemic, so this is going to be the big event that’ll kick it off for the town after two years of lockdowns. It’s going to be a big one, it’ll be a big day,” Mr Hehir told the Moorabool News.

“We are a holiday town, tourism is Blackwood’s economy, and has been ever since the gold gave out. Not just the town’s economy, but the community as a whole, is embedded in the holiday industry…as a community we run the caravan park, we run all the other facilities in town too, the hall, the sports ground, et cetera.”

All proceeds from ticket sales will be invested back into the Blackwood community, with the Carnival providing funds for a range of community groups including the Crown Reserves Committee, Blackwood Cricket Club, and Blackwood Senior Citizens Club.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-04-05/1

in the 5 April 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.