For the first time in its 70-year history, the Bathurst Eisteddfod will begin at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on Sunday, a move designed specifically for working parents.
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Bathurst Eisteddfod Society president Paula Elbourne said often parents who work miss out on seeing their little ones perform because many of the sessions are held during working hours.
To address this, organisers have come up with a new idea, Babies Day, comprising three performance-packed speech and dance sessions at 10am, 1pm and 6pm this Sunday, August 30.
The daytime sessions will feature the five years and six years speech and dance solos, and in the evening the seven years and eight years speech and dance solos will be showcased.
“We are very excited about this,” Ms Elbourne said.
“It will allow working parents to come along, relax, watch their kids and enjoy the day.
“There will be plenty of costumes, glitter, make-up and smiles.
“These categories are always popular with kids starting out, however, with some children performing in their first eisteddfod when they are three, they are veterans by the time they are six.”
The little ones will be the first performers to try out the new vinyl floor, which has been installed in the theatre to protect performers from fatigue and injury.
Ms Elbourne said the Eisteddfod Society had also worked very hard this year to reduce the cost of admission to ensure all performers had a great audience to cheer them on.
Adults will now pay $6 per session, concessions $4 and student ticket prices will be $2.
“We really want to see all the hard work kids put in to make it onto that stage recognised,” Ms Elbourne said.
“Seeing a great crowd appreciating all the work they’ve put in is an important character- building exercise.”
Because it is the city’s bicentenary, Bathurst Regional Council will be sponsoring two special music awards this year as part of the celebrations.
One will be for the most outstanding choral performance of a piece by an Australian composer, and the other will be the most outstanding concert band performance of a work by an Australian composer.
“We thank council for their continued support by the use of our facilities and staff for the eisteddfod,” Ms Elbourne said.
“We also thank all our amazing sponsors who help us to provide this amazing event for Bathurst.”
The event will culminate with a grand concert from 7pm on Friday, September 18 to celebrate 70 years of Bathurst Eisteddfod.