BATHURST residents won't be sending out 2020 with a bang, but they can expect fireworks for Australia Day.
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The festivities will start with the Bathurst Fun Fair on Saturday, January 23 and continue through to Australia Day itself.
Councillor Alex Christian, who has been trying to revamp Bathurst's Australia Day festivities for years, expects residents will welcome the new event at Bathurst Showground next year.
"From what I understand, the fun fair has been really well received the couple of times it has been here," he said. "I believe admission is around $6 and for an all-day pass for all the rides is $30, so it has been embraced and I fully expect it will be over Australia Day weekend as well."
The fun fair will include carnival rides, show bags and food vendors for four days. There will be limited numbers per session and tickets must be pre-purchased.
Day one will conclude with an 8.30pm fireworks show, and that will be repeated at the same time on Australia Day itself.
With Bathurst unable to have fireworks last New Year's Eve due to fire risk and the display scrapped again for 2020 because of COVID-19, the news of Australia Day fireworks should bring joy to the community.
"I was really upset to learn we weren't going ahead with fireworks on New Year's Eve, I thought it would have been a great way to take out an otherwise appalling year, however, I see fireworks for Australia Day as a great opportunity to start next year with a bang and on a positive note," Cr Christian said.
On January 26, there will be an invite-only citizenship ceremony at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre at 10.30am, followed by the Australia Day awards at noon.
Cr Christian said the ceremony will include the presentation of new medallions, which council is accepting nominations for now.
"We're asking people in the community to go out and nominate either an individual or an organisation who works in the public service sector who has gone above and beyond this year, who has really sort of put the Bathurst region first and done a good job," he said.
"We're asking people to nominate them and the successful nominees will be rewarded on Australia Day."
There will also be free entry at Manning Aquatic Centre from 11am until close, with up to 500 people able to attend.
