Goin' To Gil/Under The Gums Festival

Three days of events at the Gilgandra festival were well-attended, including over 3200 people packing the Gilgandra Cultural Precinct for the Under the Gums Music Festival.

"The crowd favourite, Under The Gums, featured a standout mix of national stars and regional talent. Country music’s rising name Lane Pittman wowed audiences with his headline set, playing a number of unreleased songs for the enthusiastic Gilgandra audience," said Lucie Peart, managing editor of the Gilgandra Weekly.

Gilgandra Shire mayor, Cr Doug Batten, reflected on the success of the town's annual festival, thanking everyone who attended, participated in activities, and contributed to the delivery of the Goin’ to Gil Festival/Under The Gums Weekend.

“What an amazing weekend it was in Gilgandra! The region was a hive of activity and smiling faces as our community paraded through the CBD and celebrated the Goin’ to Gil Festival and Under the Gums across the October long weekend,” the mayor said.

“The weekend of events and activities was a tremendous achievement for our small community, with over 3,000 attendees. This festival has put Gilgandra on the map and showcased what a wonderful community we have,” Cr Batten added.

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Carinda Let's Dance Festival

Further west at Carinda, the Let's Dance: David Bowie Tribute Festival took place on Saturday, October 4. The remote community, part of the Walgett Shire, was the site of the music video for David Bowie's smash hit "Let's Dance" in 1983 at the Carinda Hotel, a fact the small town has embraced and celebrated.

Dubbo Photo News reached out to Walgett Shire Council and mayor, Cr Jasen Ramien for comment on the local festival, but did not receive a response.

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Narromine Dolly Parton Festival

In Narromine, the fourth Dolly Parton Festival has been hailed as one of the town’s most successful community events yet, with over 1300 people attending the night-time concert at Cale Oval, and a steady stream of people across the day for the Dolly-themed street party.

Narromine Shire Council’s mayor, Cr Ewen Jones, said this year’s festival was a shining example of community spirit at its best.

“It was wonderful to see so many people come together to celebrate,” Cr Jones said.

“The turnout was outstanding, with visitors coming from across the region to enjoy a great day of entertainment, markets and live performances. The atmosphere was full of energy and genuine country spirit - it really showcased what makes Narromine such a special community.”

Mayor Jones thanked the many sponsors, volunteers, local businesses, community groups and council staff who helped bring this year’s event to life.

“Events like this don’t just happen. My sincere thanks to everyone involved, and to the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program and Tomingley Gold for their ongoing support,” he concluded.

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Trundle ABBA Festival halted

Sadly, one popular festival in the region traditionally held in October - the Trundle ABBA Festival - did not make a return this year. Parkes Regional Council announced in March that there would not be a festival this year, but is eager to see the event continue and is exploring potential funding opportunities.

Parkes Shire mayor, Cr Neil Westcott, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision while expressing appreciation for the Trundle community’s willingness to collaborate on potential solutions.

"We are saddened to make this decision about an event that brings so much joy to the community and visitors who travel from near and far to attend," Cr Westcott said in a press release on March 21.

The Trundle community still rallied though, staging an "All Roads Lead To Trundle" weekend from October 17-19, aiming to bring people back to the town.