BATHURST’S third annual winter festival was such a success that Orange is considering holding its own version.
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The 16-day festival was held earlier this month and it attracted more than 19,000 skaters to the ice rink, 32,000 to the ferris wheel and carousel and an estimated 22,000 to the two street parties.
Brand Orange represents many of the city’s tourism groups, and executive officer Rhonda Sear said she was impressed with the activities in Bathurst after seeing it first-hand.
“I think Bathurst has done a really good job with it,” she told the Central Western Daily.
Ms Sear said that Orange should not copy Bathurst’s event, but consider how to make a bigger and better festival.
“I think it is something that we should put on the table again, something that is unique and offer people a fun experience,” she said.
During the past few weeks, Orange has had an indoor skating rink at the Showgrounds.
In the past, the city has held a winter festival, Frostfest, which was last run in 2013.
“It worked OK, but it didn’t set the world on fire,” Ms Sear said.
Bathurst Business Chamber vice-president Steve Semmens recently told the Western Advocate that the winter festival had exceeded his expectations and was a welcome boost for CBD businesses.
Bathurst Regional Council’s events team have run the event since its inception in 2015, and mayor Graeme Hanger refused to be drawn on Orange running a similar festival.
“The Bathurst Winter Festival has its own unique identity that attracts visitors to Bathurst to experience the best of what the region has to offer,” he said.
“We encourage and support neighbouring regional cities to hold their own unique events as visitors tend to explore and experience the surrounding regions during their stay.”