It’s showtime in Maryborough - continued from front page

Tickets are also on sale for a host of sessions, including lunches, a high tea, cruises and even a painting class with wine tasting.

For more information and tickets, visit relishfrasercoast.com.au.

The annual Poppins extravaganza, which honours Maryboroughborn Mary Poppins author PL Travers, is next, on Sunday, July 2, also at the Portside Precinct and Queens

Park.

Admission is free.

This year’s festival will include special steam train rides and a heritage train display, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Queensland’s first steam engine, the Mary Ann, being built in Maryborough by John Walker and Co Ltd, today’s Downer Rail.

Maryborough’s fully functional replica of the Mary Ann will carry passengers along the scenic route of the Mary River and back in time.

Downer Group will be holding a free heritage train display in Queens Park.

It will include Loco B15 No.299 Built 1897, two DH locos and the last steam train built in Australia, built in March 1958: Ex Queensland Railway BB18 1/4 No.1089.

Guests can also take a ride on the miniature steam train through Queens Park on the day.

One-man band Uptown Brown, who performs a program of primitive 1920s and 1930s jazz and blues, will make his debut at the festival this year.

Uptown Brown’s contraption is built from cedar, leather, and brass, with vocals and finger-picked ukulele are amplified through old megaphones, mimicking the effect of a 78 record.

He’ll be roaming throughout the festival while performing.

Other entertainers will include Hervey Bay best-selling children’s author, YouTube star and musical entertainer Deano Yipadee, who will be performing two interactive shows under the Rotunda in Queens Park, and Glen the Magician, who will be at the Gatakers Courtyard as well as performing impromptu magic tricks through the event.Festival fixtures the Great Nanny Race, the Chimney Sweep Challenge, costume competition and grand parade finale with singalong will all return this year.

The celebration of the art of storytelling will also include market stalls, rides, pavement art and live entertainment, and food will be available.

Formore information, visit www. marypoppinsfestival.com. au.