Popular program of activities

Although it’s hard to choose, Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival committee president Keith Barnett is most looking forward to Saturday night’s fireworks spectacular.
With years in preparation, the festival is finally on again from tomorrow to Sunday, with plenty of attractions to keep you entertained all weekend long.
In its 46th year, festival goers will see the Stanthorpe sky come alive with colour on Saturday night, with a 10-minute fireworks spectacular at the Carnarvon Bridge, Maryland Street, about 7.30pm.
“I think the fireworks tops off a really good Saturday,” Mr Barnett said.
He said there were a number of popular events returning to the Saturday program, including the much-anticipated grape crush, the grand parade, and the street carnival, stalls and entertainment.
Mr Barnett said about 60 to 70 stalls were expected to line the streets, offering anything from hats and sporting equipment to food and drinks.
Stalls will open about 9am in the Stanthorpe central business district with the grand parade to be held at 2pm.
The Market in the Mountains will be held at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre from 8am to 5pm and the Fruit, Wine and Vegetable Auction will be held at the Festival Showroom, corner of Maryland and Railway streets, from 5pm.
He said there would be plenty of entertainment for festival goers including roving musicians and bands, Poets in the Piazza, rides for young and old, helicopter rides and a Pizza Eating Competition.
For further details on these events contact the Festival Showroom on (07) 4681 4111 or log onto www.appleandgrape.org
Mr Barnett said funding from Events Queensland and the Regional Arts Development Fund, along with sponsorship, allowed many of the festival events to be held free of charge.

Story: Rebecca Brown