Come November, Coffs Harbour will host the Inaugural Holiday Coast Fiesta, an annual celebration to take place in Melbourne Cup Week every year. While an east coast Australian holiday resort may not seem the usual spot for a Spanish style festival, Coffs Harbour has a large multicultural community with many residents from around the globe, including the largest Sikh community in Australia.
Working closely with the local Multicultural Access Resource Service, the organising committee comprising a Councillor, business people, schools and sports groups selected November for the Fiesta to coincide with the pleasant climate and low tourist activity at that time. Events planned for the nine day Fiesta include a race meeting to be held on Melbourne Cup Day, a Multicultural Schools Program, an International Music Fiesta and Wine and Food Fiesta Extravaganza, featuring fine wines and food from around the world.
Accentuating the principal primary industry in the district is the Holiday Coast Fun Day and Go Bananas at the Big Banana tourist icon, incorporating a banana field day.
“The Fiesta is designed to draw the whole community together over an event packed nine days, with activities for all ages and tastes,” said Councillor Bill Wood. “Local media outlets are fully supporting the celebration with each of the local electronic and print media sponsoring a particular event and presenting coverage of activities.”
Financial support has been received from Festivals Australia through the Department of Arts and Communications, and an auction of items donated by the media, including a promotional package to the value of $2,500 and full page advertisements in local papers.
For further information contact Cr Bill Wood, telephone (02) 6648 4000.
