Suzi Botha has put up her hand to coordinate a revamped Rose Festival in Glen Innes, and it’s all happening this Saturday, November 17 in the Town Hall, spilling into Town Square.
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Suzi has run with the idea to bring together multiple smaller events happening at this time of the year, adding another major festival to the Glen Innes calendar. Although she’d testing the waters this year, she’s hoping the community will turn out in droves to make the undertaking a success because she had big plans for future festivals.
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These events will definitely have a vintage feel, and have indeed have been named the Vintage Rose Festival.
From 9am to 4pm on Saturday there will be markets, car displays, and a teacup rose competition, all to a background of the playlist of a 1950’s DJ.
Suzi has around a dozen stalls lined up selling a mix of vintage clothes, fresh flowers, handmade toys and bags and more.
“They will all offer quirky, cool stuff,” she said.
Vintage car enthusiasts from across the region will have their pride-and-joy vehicles on display. Those who passions lean more towards floral pursuits are invited to cut their finest roses and pop them into a vintage teacup to take part in the teacup rose display. (Suzi said she can loan out ‘vases’ from her own vintage teacup collection for those not suitably equipped.)
The DJ comes to the fore at 10am when the Rockabilly Rockers New England come up from Tamworth to take centre stage in Town Square.
They will not only be demonstrating their moves but also encouraging onlookers to become part of the action, so wear your dancing shoes. They’ll be on again at noon and 2pm.
The big drawcard for this inaugural festival is the Miss Vintage Rose Pageant to be held inside Town Hall. Eight contestants will vy for the title, judged on their personality and how well they’ve embrace the vintage theme.
“We’ll see these beautiful girl’s sashaying along the catwork,” Suzi said.
“They’re absolutely stunning girls, from all over the region.”
Suzi relocated from the ‘big smoke’ three years ago and is keen to Glen Innes enjoy that rockabilly vibe that appeals to young and old alike.
“I love rockabilly,” she said.
“It can bring together all ages. It will be cool to bring something like that to this region.
“It’s taking something old and classic and bringing it up to date.”