After two very long years, the popular Marmalade Festival and Peel Jam is set to make a welcome return to Peel's Old School Hall this Saturday, November 7.
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The annual event, which launched in 2009, was cancelled in 2019 due to the construction of public toilet facilities in the area running behind schedule.
And despite 2020's COVID-19 situation initially throwing another spanner into the event's works, a stagnation in regional cases has allowed the event to go ahead under a COVID-safe environment.
Event organiser Christine Porter said the event will bring a host of local musicians and artists together for an afternoon of quality entertainment.
"It'll be a simplified version of the Jam, but there will still be an art exhibition [featuring 40 entries] and nine hours of music as per normal," Ms Porter said.
"There's an awesome lineup involved, featuring everything from folk to jazz and rock, and all acts are local this year."
The lineup includes The Mirandas, The Shaccs, Jenna and Belle, Soul Food, The Hip Replacements, Wing It Jazz, Jack Fry, Alex and Charlie, The Mats and The Melody Catchers.
Ms Porter said the COVID-safe plan will limit maximum attendance to 200 at any given time, but anticipates people will come and go throughout the day.
"At previous events, our attendance has been 400 over the course of the day, so it's unlikely we'll reach 200 on site at any point," she said.
"We'll have a sign in register on entry, and request attendees bring their own food and drinks [there'll be no stallholders on the day] and keep groups at a maximum of 10 people."
Ms Porter said the event, despite the changes, will serve as a vital opportunity to support local artists.
"The local music community has faced its most challenging year on record, and this event will give musicians an audience to perform in front of again," she said.
"We ask attendees to bear with us on the day, as there will be stricter precautions than normal, but we're grateful to see it go ahead.
The event will commence with a Welcome to Country at 11.55am. Tickets cost $10 each [$20 for families].
For more information, visit the Marmalade Festival Peel Jam Facebook page.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
