WELL it is that time of the year again – Yakerboo’s 39th birthday. After its establishment way back in 1976, who would have thought it would still be going nearly 40 years later?
This year the committee has been working particularly hard to cater for the growing popularity of the festival by raising funds for additional rides.
For those new to the area and wondering what Yakkerboo is all about, well, I think of it as a mini Moomba, with a parade, market, carnival and lots of family fun. One big difference from Moomba, however, is that on Sunday the rides are free.
It all kicks off with the carnival on Saturday 18 April at Bourke Park, just opposite the railway station. The carnival staff will run the night and so will charge for rides. Come down and enjoy the carnival atmosphere before the fireworks start at 9pm.
Please note, if you have pets within the vicinity of Bourke Park, please keep them inside between 9pm and 9.15pm on the night.
On Sunday, we start the day off at 10.45am with a cavalcade of unique vehicles at 10.45am followed by a parade featuring floats and entries from local schools, kinders and clubs in the area. See the map in this week’s Gazette, visit our website at www.yakkerboo.org.ua or find us on Facebook (Yakkerboo Pakenham) to see the route that the parade will take.
Main Street in Pakenham will be closed off between the two roundabouts and along Station Street, and we have a market with heaps of great stalls selling a wide range of goods. The market has been sold out again this year, so there should be something for everyone. The family fun then moves to Bourke Park, where the rides and activities will continue.
The shelter in Bourke Park will be the place to be during the day, where we will be giving away icy poles, cordial and, of course, Mr Yakkerboo’s birthday cake kindly donated by The Great Australian Bakehouse of Main Street, Pakenham. We will also be selling raffle tickets, with prizes including a girls and boys bike (kindly donated by Browns Amusements) as well as over $2000 worth of goods donated by local businesses. Tickets will be on sale for $2 at the front of the shelter and will be drawn on the day at 3.30pm.
This day would not be possible if it were not for the Cardinia Shire Council’s funding together with the money kindly donated by local businesses. If anyone has any doubt about our funding, I say to you, get on down to the festival and see how many families attend and enjoy the day. There are not many festivals that give so much and enable families to have a fun day out with little or no expense. It would also not be possible if it were not for the dedicated committee that do the hard yards to put on this festival for the families of the area and I would like to personally thank each and every one of them.
Hopefully, the weather will be kind and shine on us once more.
Enjoy your day everyone,
Michael Porter
President, Yakkerboo Festival Committee
