The 2023 Tenterfield Autumn Festival was once again, another great event for locals and visitors to the Tenterfield Shire over the Easter long weekend.
Throughout the weekend visitors enjoyed visiting the hay bales that were prepared by locals all around the Tenterfield district, including Thomas the Tank Train prepared by the Borderline Arts Team and the Tenterfield Railway volunteers who came in first place, followed closely behind by the Baled-up Chooks out at Peakvue Studio on Mt McKenzie Road, with the Mind Us Cow and the Tenterfield Lions Club Lion out on the Casino Road coming in equal third.
The CBD of Tenterfield was overflowing with tourists and locals, with businesses having some of their biggest days on record.
Plenty of people were appreciating the autumn window and store displays as part of the CBD Window Display Competition, The results of which will be announced at the end of April.
The launch of the 2024 Tenterfield Autumn Festival at The Linda Riseley Powerhouse Gallery on Railway Ave welcomed around 200 guests to view artworks, not only by Ms Risley, but several local Tenterfield artists, plus many more from not only around Australia but from around the world.
Festival President Mrs Kim Rhodes commented that Sunday and Monday were a little quieter than past years perhaps due to the fact NSW students return to school this week until the end of April.
The magnificently prepared Glenrock Gardens saw visitors arriving from all over Northern NSW & Southern Queensland from about 9:00am on Friday with owner Annie Brennan Jones saying almost 700 people visited the gardens over the three days.
The Pizza & Pinot night at Bad Manners was brimming at the sides with Nine Year Sisters entertaining the crowds.
Market stall holders travelled from far and wide to attend the markets meaning festival goers had an amazing range of goods to view and make purchases from. Committee member Ms Jessica Kennedy said this year’s markets had something for everyone.
The Tenterfield Lion’s donut van volunteers were kept busy all day raising money for childhood cancer research and The Paw Patrol jumping castle was popular with the children, lots of fresh produce including Duncan’s Tenterfield grown figs and Sandra’s beautifully prepared handbags, local woodwork, cooking and so much more for market goers to purchase and enjoy.
Festival committee member Ms Rosy Carter reported the Vintage car competition in Petherick Park, was a huge success as vehicles were beautifully prepared and this event was well supported, not only by car enthusiasts but a lot of people just wanting to view the magnificent collection of vehicles ranging from motorbikes, caravans, a fire engine and a selection of well-prepared shiny vehicles of all ages, shapes and sizes.
The Cobb and Co coach rides were a new event for the festival & festival goers enjoyed a step back in time both Saturday and Sunday, taking a coach ride led by the magnificently prepared Clydesdale horses.
The new event added to the festival at the skatepark was a competition for pushbike, skateboard and scooter enthusiasts for best style, skills and tricks staged at the Youth precinct. After a few technical hitches with the sound system, as always locals came to the rescue with a generator and the children enjoyed a great afternoon of competition at the prize winning Tenterfield Shire Council Youth Precinct.
Saturday night Eat Street Tenterfield at Bad Manners got underway with local musician Mitch Smith performing live until late. Approximately 1500 guests enjoyed the event with the firepits roaring to keep everyone warm and great street food options including Korean Fusion, Dumplings, Woodfire Pizza, Gourmet Soup, Aussie Street ice-Cream, Gourmet Pies and the Bad Manners Donut.
The bar had a great selection of local Granite Belt wines and also the New Night Hunter Premium Lager
from New England Brewing Co. in collaboration with Tenterfield’s very own Quoll Headquarters.
The reopened Tenterfield School of Arts featured a short film East Coast Launch called ‘’No Man’s Land’’ followed by a feature about how the film was made by its director Christian Kennedy. This film has had over 3 million hits on YouTube since its release at the beginning of this month.
The Jackson Clarke Memorial Lantern Parade was a very moving event, with volunteers preparing almost 200 lanterns for the parade.
Visitors lined the street to watch Jackson’s family, friends and community move through the town in honour of this very special young man.
A huge highlight of the Autumn Festival is always the free Sunday morning Easter Egg Hunt for different ages that is put on by the Tenterfield Lions Club, with the assistance of the year 12 students of Tenterfield High School.
This year the children had to find a little chicken in a treasure hunt and present it to the Easter Bunny who exchanged their treasure for a bag of eggs. This is always a lovely family morning. President Kim Rhodes said, it is lovely to see the smiles on the children’s faces when the Easter Bunny gives them a high five.
The final event on the Tenterfield Autumn Festival program was the sold-out Historic Tenterfield Station Homestead on Easter Monday with almost 180 guests enjoying morning tea, with entertainment including the talented musician Mr Nick Wolverson, poetry recitals Mr Peter Petty and artisan craftspeople displaying their talents at leather work, cobbling, alpaca spinning, graphite drawing and watercolour, and silver jewellery making displays.
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