IT might have originally started as a one-off celebration for the bicentenary, but the Bathurst Winter Festival is back bigger and better, Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger says.
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Now in its fourth year the festival will run from July 7-22, and while the ice rink and ferris wheel will feature once again, a brand new attraction has been added.
“This year we’ve got another attraction, the House of Mirrors,” Cr Hanger said.
“It’s a mirror maze of 350 square metres and it will be just a fantastic event right here in front of the council chambers.”
- VIDEO: Bathurst MP Paul Toole says festival is great for region
Cr Hanger said he expects the McDonalds Bathurst Ice Rink to again draw in the crowds, with more than 21,000 tickets to skate purchased last year.
“The ice rink is 18 by 30 metres, the same size as last year,” he said.
“We had 80 per cent capacity last year and we’re hoping that it’ll be about that this year.”
The dedicated accessibility session on the ice rink will be back with longer hours. It will be held from 9am until 3pm on Friday, July 13.
Kings Parade and surrounds will again be the location of two festival street parties, with Ignite the Night on July 7, and Brew and Bite on July 14.
Last year’s street parties attracted 22,000 people the central business district, and this year the events will be back with extended hours.
- VIDEO: Launch of the 2018 Bathurst Winter Festival
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole was at the launch and said it was a wise decision for the NSW Government to recently contribute $20,000 to help market and promote the festival.
“This is about not only allowing the community to be involved in the activity, but it’s about bringing visitors here to the region,” he said.
“Last year from these 21,000 people [who purchased a ticket to ice skate] it was estimated that one in four were from people outside of the area.”
Mr Toole said the festival was also a great opportunity for Bathurst region producers to showcase their wine, beer and food.
Tickets to ice skate are now available to purchase on the Bathurst Winter Festival website.
Prices are $10 adults (aged 15 years or older), $5 for children aged 2-14, and skating aids can be purchased for an additional $5 each.