READY TO GROOVE: George and Elijah Mitchell and Chloe and Charli Ryan are getting ready for the Winter Blues Festival, which now has a two-day kids’ space. Photo: Lachlan Durling
1 of 1
IT’S kids to the fore this Winter Blues Festival as the kids’ space will run for an extra day for the 20th anniversary event.
Throughout the four days of free entertainment there will be something for everyone — and for all ages — with the additional day of the kids’ space at Hopwood Gardens.
A swag of free activities are on offer to keep children amused and parents will be entertained with live music in the rotunda.
Normally held on the Sunday, the Winter Blues Festival committee have increased the volunteer-run activities to Saturday as well.
‘‘The Winter Blues Festival brings together a truly diverse collection of top Australian blues musicians,’’ festival chairman Peter Williams said. ‘‘Add to that some new and upcoming acts whose careers are just beginning, and you have the truly unique Echuca Moama Winter Blues.
‘‘The festival is a very family friendly event, but we recognise the need to provide a safe space for children and the growing number of younger families that visit the festival.
‘‘We’re excited about the growth this brings and hope to see residents from the region supporting this wonderful event by encouraging their friends and family to visit during the final weekend in July.’’
Children can enjoy face painting, a jumping castle, fairy floss and the craft activity zone as well as performances from The Barren Spinsters, Copenhagen, and Ian Collard.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary this year, the festival now has a free app, which features performance schedules, artist profiles, ticketing, a Spotify playlist and more.
Shuttle busses will again operate this year, along with festival ambassadors assisting throughout the weekend, easily found in their red t-shirts with the ‘i’ on the back.
This year also sees the return of the homegrown stage on Saturday from 11am to 2pm, with locals, The Ramage Boys, performing along with other homegrown musicians and a songwriter’s studio for budding young musicians.
The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival runs from July 25-28, with the kids’ space operating from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
