Events

Friday, April 6, 2012

Lightning Ridge Easter Festival (Outback Festivals)

The Lightning Ridge Easter festival is in it's 35th year and showcases all the ‘Ridge’ has to offer and more!  A fun-filled weekend for all the family kicking off with Friday nights Carnivale’(Rio de Janiro meets Black Opal Country!) – a night of colour, live circus performances , Calypso music , fire twirlers,   and lots more! Saturday is a day of ‘action’ with our new, entertaining goat (a twist on our traditional ones) & wheelie bin races, new ‘Big Dig’ Event (your chance to dig for opal) and our famous Horse Races (celebrating100years)!

Of course there will be street stalls and roving performances by extraordinary entertainers and the night will come alive with breath-taking  fireworks and live entertainment at both licensed venues.   Wind down on Sunday with a stroll through the markets and take advantage of the numerous/fantastic tourist attractions Lightning Ridge has to offer.

Lightning Ridge is famous for black opal mined from the ridges that surround this unique town. It is also renowned for the cultural diversity and relaxed atmosphere.

Wheelie Bin Races Details:

Entry fee is $5. Six Wheelie Bin Races will be held between each of the goat race heats with

1st & 2nd place getters to go into the semi-final.

2 Wheelie Bin Semi - Finals and Final:

Wheelie bins must be pushed not pulled, or you will be disqualified

Friday: Main Event - The Ridge Carnivale`
6.30pm till late – Carnivale` @ the Pub in the Club (LR Bowling Club) – “Rio de Janiro meets Black Opal Country” -a night filled with fire-twirlers, calypso music, circus entertainment and lots more, come dressed in Carnivale` theme to win ‘best dressed’ prizes!

Other Events10am – 4pm: "Seymour Arts with Geoff Knight" - a visual arts spectacular with portrait artist Geoff Knight  (2010 Archibald exhibitor) @ the Lightning Ridge Arts & Crafts Hall (cnr Pandora & Gem St-next to Gymnasium)

10-3pm - The Ridge Art Space presents ‘Bold Colour and Movement’ an exhibition of paintings by Cathy Carson.  An artist’s impression of the lights, the colour, the animals, the people and the magic of the bush (Cnr Morilla & Onyx St)

Drop by the Australian Opal Centre between the hours of 9am-5pm to experience their amazing Opal and Fossil Display.

1pm - 4pm: The Heritage Cottage Hospital Gallery’s photographic exhibition (Historical Society building) -  The Early Years of the Lightning Ridge Race Club, 1911-2011

Saturday: Main Event "The Big Dig"

11am: The Big Dig Event – tickets will be sold all morning – only 10 contestants will be drawn to have the chance to strike it lucky
Easter Saturday morning will see an array of roving street entertainment so keep your eyes peeled for live performances by Mr Quirk, The Great Scott, roving circus entertainment, live blues and calypso  music all whilst perusing the many street stalls.

Main Event - Lightning Ridge Horse Races

12pm: ‘One Hundred Years of Racing in Lightning Ridge’ Heritage Parade – starting at the Historical Society (old-time opal miners carrying their swags, pushing barrows with their picks and shovels, schoolchildren on ponies, horses and carts, 'toffs' riding penny farthing bikes) it will lead down to the race course

Evening Entertainment

Whether your listening to live music at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club from 9pm till late or being entertained at the Lightning Ridge Outback Resort from 6pm till late don't miss the Fireworks Spectacular and Fire Twirlers Display shooting off from the soccer fields from approximately 8:30pm.

Sunday: Morning Markets

Relax on Sunday with a stroll through the Sunday Morning Markets from 7.00am - 1:00pm at the Lions Park Morilla St. Come down and find a treasure at one of the market stalls and don't miss the entertainment of the roving artistic performers... 

9am – 5pm: Visit the Visitor Information Centre to find out more about the numerous attractions, book tours etc 

1pm - 4pm: The Heritage Cottage Hospital Gallery’s photographic exhibition (Historical Society building) -  The Early Years of the Lightning Ridge Race Club, 1911-2011

10-3pm - The Ridge Art Space presents ‘Bold Colour and Movement’ an exhibition of paintings by Cathy Carson.  An artist’s impression of the lights, the colour, the animals, the people and the magic of the bush (Cnr Morilla & Onyx St)

"Seymour Arts with Geoff Knight" - a visual arts spectacular with portrait artist Geoff Knight  (2010 Archibald exhibitor) @ the Lightning Ridge Arts & Crafts Hall (cnr Pandora & Gem St-next to Gymnasium) 

The Easter Festival Committee wish to thank all the individuals and businesses who have made contributions to ensure the success of this weekend, particularly the Lightning Ridge Hotel Motel and the Lightning Ridge District Bowling Club