Advertising feature
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Shoalhaven Ex-Servos River Festival has reinvented itself once again. This year the festival will be an action-packed day of festivities on Saturday, October 27.
“The Shoalhaven River Festival is run by a group of dedicated volunteers to provide a springtime celebration that involves the whole community, while enjoying the beauty and accessibility of the Shoalhaven,” festival chairperson Elise Austin said.
“Now in its sixth year, we are delighted to have a new naming sponsor – The Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen's Club River Festival. By providing a free event to the community we rely heavily on the support of our local businesses, along with the continuous support of major sponsors Shoalhaven City Council and Shoalhaven Water.”
Activities kick off from 9am down by Scenic Drive with over 100 themed market stalls co-ordinated by The Collective Beat in Kiama, activities in the ArtZone and on the water. The streets will be buzzing as the circus monoxide team stroll through market stalls performing their amazing acts.
There is also a huge lineup of live entertainment - with performers including Chalkie White Band, Paul Greene, Lulo, Emma Jene, Corner Pocket, Claude Hay, winners of the Shoalhaven Open Mic competition as well as dance acts and a smoking ceremony.
This advertising feature is supported by the following businesses. Click the link to learn more:
“The musical highlight is musician and journeyman Claude Hay,” Mrs Austin said “He has toured Europe and USA extensively, topping the Billboard blues chart by employing a technique using looping pedals to sample and layer music.”
The river will become a playground of jetskis and ski boats as the teams hold their state title rounds. The Macey's Insurance splashzone will have the kids dripping wet as the jetski and jetpack team show off their skills.
Macey Insurance Brokers director Brendan Goddard said one of Macey’s values is community. “We strongly believe in giving back to the community from which our customers belong,” he said. “The river festival is a great community event and the Macey Splash Down and Splash Zone have become a major component of the festival.
“Our business is fortunate to be in a position which allows us to financially support many community events and it is a proud moment when you see the entire foreshore packed with hundreds of spectators watching the Macey Splash Down performance.”
The festival theme is Light Up The River - so there will be some new elements to tie in with this. “Each year we try to provide new and exciting features,” Mrs Austin said. “This year we have decided to mix it up a little by changing the traditional street parade to a twilight tinnie parade.
“Our creative team are working hard to impress the locals with their amazing sculptures, all of the river themed creatures will ‘light up the river’ with their vibrant LED lights.
“The twilight parades will kick off at 7pm with children from Illaroo Road Public School displaying their handmade lanterns lead by Aboriginal Elders conducting a smoking ceremony through Scenic Drive.”
Look what’s landed at the ArtZone
While the river will be a big focus of the festival, it’s not all about the water – there’s plenty of fun and things to do and see on solid ground.
Throughout the entire day festival-goers can take part in a number of crafty endeavours at the Art Zone.
Some of the workshops available include Mosaic Madness, a mosaic demonstration with Mad Cow Studio; River Yarns, which involves Aboriginal weaving with Aunty Julie Freeman; Fish Fillets, designed to celebrate the river with artist Gillian Rhys; Tank Art, street art with aerosol artists from Verb Syndicate and Art out of Waste with Lissa de Sailles, a fun workshop supported by Waste Services at Shoalhaven City Council.
Recycling dynamos, the King and Queen of Green will be performing throughout the morning and from 10am-2pm, Shoalhaven Zoo will have a river creatures display, where you can meet the animals and have fun with art.
Circus Monoxide will rev up the crowds from noon until 4pm, while The Con Artists will bring things down a notch with some relaxing jazz from 11am-1pm.
Don’t miss the smoking ceremony at 7pm, followed by the lantern parade at 7.30pm.
The flood boat pavilion will be magically lit from 7-9pm, so grab a selfie while you can.
During this time local artists will have decorated the Art Zone with some great lighting sculptures to check out.
Read more: Festival set to light up the river and sky