Monday, June 13, 2016 • Issue 002
www.bluemountainsrecord.com.au www.westernweekender.com.au
Running to Rio
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
B U S I N E S S T I PS Advice, tips and profiles on the best local businesses p.20-21
Mountains come alive Colour, excitement and fun at annual Winter Magic Festival ERIN MAMO
Olympic dream comes true for Ben Back Page
Students ready to dance p.22 CROSSWORDS Test your skills with our weekly puzzles p.25
T
he highly anticipated 23rd Blue Mountains Winter Magic Festival will be held this Saturday, June 18, in Katoomba. The free annual community event is celebrated around the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. The streets will be lined with stalls and musicians, dancers, drummers and choirs will all be performing. The grand parade starts at 11.30am and is the highlight of the festival with over 500 participants, ranging from toddlers to seniors, walking in the spectacle. There will also be multiple live entertainment stages, a family fun zone, a busking competition and fireworks at 6.30pm. This year’s headline act that will close out the festival will be local award winning artist Claude Hay. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Where The Magic Things Are’. The festival committee is asking people to consider what magic means to them, whether it is the magic of community, the magic of the Blue Mountains or the magic of winter. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume. Unlike many festivals run by Chambers of Commerce and Councils, this event is run by community volunteers. “This not for profit festival is entirely self supporting and organised by a small group of unpaid volunteers,” said Charity Mirow, one of the event organisers. Story continues on » p. 5
There will be lots of colour and magic at this year’s Blue Mountains Winter Magic Festival
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