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Fireworks, watermelons, dummies, bubble soccer, lamingtons, music, sand castles, circus performers and freebies … what do they all have in common?
Answer: They’ll all feature at this year’s Whyalla Australia Day celebrations.
The City of Whyalla has put together another big program of entertainment at this FREE admission event on Friday, January 26 on the foreshore.
The celebrations actually start on Thursday evening, January 25 with a Mayoral Ceremony at the Mount Laura Homestead to present the Whyalla Australia Day Award winners being sponsored by Whyalla Beyond Bank.
It’s then an early start for those keen for serious competition or just a pleasant walk with the Beyond Bank Australia Day 5km Fun Run starting at 9am from the Ada Ryan Gardens.
The celebrations then crank up again at 4pm on the foreshore and go through to a spectacular fireworks display at 9pm.
It’s hard to know where to start but it will start with a sand castle competition at 4pm. Featured at the same time will be face painting, freebies, amusement rides, bubble soccer and some amazing performances from young local entertainers.
Presented by the Whyalla Music Association, Emily Rawlings, Brie Ryan and Jasmine Moder will be performing at the foreshore event.
There will also be a Circus Element workshop with these performers hitting the stage later in the evening.
The national anthem will, of course, be played with a flag raising ceremony, acknowledgement of Whyalla’s Australia Day Award winners and then the “unveiling of the lamingtons” which will be handed out. That’s if you’ve still got room left with plenty of food and drinks stalls operating throughout the afternoon and the evening.
So, no need to spit the dummy either, unless you’re going in the official dummy spitting competition. This will be just as funny as the a novel watermelon eating competition where you may have time to spit it … a few pips that is.
The evening will then turn it up a notch with popular local band Jackdaw hitting the stage before the fireworks finish the night off with a bang.
“This is a unique Whyalla Australia Day celebration designed to appeal to all ages,” the City of Whyalla’s Events and Tourism Development Partner Rebecca Neilson said.
“It is an alcohol-free event and a free event to attend, making it perfect for the family.
“I can’t wait to see local talents Emily, Brie and Jasmine perform during Youth Hour and the watermelon and dummy competitions will be a laugh.
“And we all know how much the kids love fireworks, it is a perfect way to finish off the day.”
The Australia Day event and the fun run is being sponsored this year by Whyalla’s Beyond Bank.
City of Whyalla Australia Day Program
Thursday, January 25
6.30pm: Mayoral Ceremony for Whyalla Australia Day Award winners at Mount Laura Homestead. Sponsored by Whyalla Beyond Bank.
Friday, January 26
9am: Beyond Bank Australia Day 5km Fun Run from Ada Ryan Gardens
4pm onwards: Sand castle competition, face painting, free handouts, amusement rides, bubble soccer, food and drink.
4pm: Youth Hour presented by Whyalla Music Association and featuring Emily Rawlings (pictured), Brie Ryan and Jasmine Moder
4.15pm: Circus Elements workshop
5.15pm: National anthem (Brie Ryan), flag raising ceremony, lamington unveiling and acknowledgements.
6pm: Circus Elements performance
6.45pm: Watermelon eating and dummy spitting competitions.
8pm: Jackdaw live on stage
9pm: Fireworks
