The legendary Wattle Time Festival is set for its return this Saturday 7 September. The festival has been in hiatus since 2019 due to the Covid 19 pandemic and inclement weather in 2022.
Wattle Time Festival is a cherished event in the Cootamundra community. It marks the start of warmer weather and the blooming of the iconic Cootamundra Wattle. Street parades, market stalls, live entertainment, and children’s amusements have all made Wattle Time a generational event.
Planning for the Festival has been undertaken over months, and with the assistance from a grant from Transport for NSW Open Streets Program, the future was assured for the festival to come back bigger, brighter, and better in 2024.
The theme, around the Cootamundra Wattle, is heavily focussed on local. Local markets, local entertainment, and local food. The popular and traditional street parade will kick the festival off, with floats, vehicles, and participants on parade in Cootamundra’s Parker Street from 10.30am. Marshalling of all vehicles and participants will begin from 9.30am in Bourke Street (between Murray and Crown Streets).
The fun and festivities will be held in Cootamundra’s beautiful Albert Park from 11am. Popular band The Mighty Yak will perform during the day, along with dancing from local dance students, a performance from our Islander Friends will be popular.
55 market stalls have registered for the event, ensuring there will be a huge variety of goods on sale, with something for everyone from local produce including olives and chilli sauces to locally made candles, hand-crafted leather goods, garden art and jewellery.
The children will be entertained with face painting, henna tattoos, a mega slide, and air racer/ball balance inflatable game. Dora and Diego learning adventure will keep the little ones entertained along with DIY kids’ crafts.
The Wattle Time festival represents the traditional period when the famous Cootamundra wattle blooms in the town and around the district and will be a day that will create memories for young and old.
Picture and caption:
Wattle Time returns on Saturday for a day of family fun and festivities to be held in Cootamundra’s Albert Park following the street parade in Parker Street starting at 10.30am.
