A family of eight are the driving force behind a massive Australia Day affair coming up at Luddenham Showground.
The Weekender spoke to local mother-of-six and events expert Jade Gardner about Aussie Big Day Out.
“It’s amazing to be Australian and to have such a great country,” Gardner said.
“We haven’t really had an event here for Australia Day, so we wanted to put something together for families to come and have an affordable and amazing day.”
The event will feature gourmet food and dessert trucks, fireworks, live music, market and craft stalls, show bags, a sausage sizzle fundraiser, Aussie-themed contests, rides and jumping castles, and carnival games.
“There has been a lot of planning happening behind the scenes for months,” Gardner recounted.
“We first had the idea to do this last Australia Day when we were looking around the area for something to do, and there wasn’t a lot in the area.
“It’s a public holiday and a lot of people around here probably didn’t do much last year, so I’m hoping this year they come to our event! Not everyone wants to drive half an hour to go somewhere and pay for parking. Here, you can park for free and there’s lots of it!”
The event will run from 2pm to 10pm on January 26, and fireworks will light up the sky around 9pm.
“Our number one goal is to have a value event. We have rides starting from $5, entry at $2, the sausage sizzle is going to be $3. Everything is affordable for families because we understand the cost of living,” Gardner stated.
“My whole family is here – my six children are helping and being a part of it – and we have some volunteers and other community members helping too. That’s the whole sense of it; it’s about the community.”
The family hope to run the event every year. Find out more about Aussie Big Day Out online at www.ticketebo.com.au/ace-attractions/aussie-big-day-out-luddenham.
If you want to explore more events, you can celebrate Australia Day at Ripples in Penrith or St Marys from 8am to 6pm. The aquatic centres will have free entry, circus performances, and plenty of entertainment and workshops.
St Marys Rugby League Club is also hosting a free family fun day from 12pm to 3pm including face painting, a petting zoo, a thong toss, yard games, and live music by Tim Pringle.
Panthers Leagues Club will host Australia Day antics from 12pm to 6pm. They will have a kids’ disco, a reptile encounter, food trucks, a lamington eating contest, a splash zone, carnival rides, and live music by Hype Boys from 3pm.
