WARRACKNABEAL’S YFest thrilled Easter Holiday crowds on Saturday with its Easter Street Parade through the middle of town and its busking competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Scott Street was filled with spectators as a lengthy parade of fire trucks and emergency vehicles, classic cars, Town Crier, clowns, steam engines, tractors, floats, rollerbladers, hoverboards, motorcycles, scooters and two vintage cycles made their way through.
The cash prizes on offer drew buskers from the across the Wimmera and interstate to the Flora-Fauna Park to battle it out in front of a panel of judges and the crowd applause meter.
Parade organisers said visitors had come from as far away as England and Poland.
Warracknabeal’s Garry Sleep said he a a few of his fellow Little Desert Rodders members had taken the opportunity to show off their hot rods at the parade.
“I’ve taken part in the last six parades,” he said.
Mr Sleep said that his purple 1948 Fargo pickup was getting to be well known about Warracknabeal.
Other car enthusiasts brought out their polished Pontiacs, Falcons, Bentleys, Valiants, MGs and Jaguars for the parade.
Husband and wife Robin and Pat Evans, from Geelong, took part in the parade under their own power on vintage cycles.
Mr Evans, who rode an 1886 Victor Penny Farthing, said they came to Warracknabeal because they heard the Agricultural Museum was having its 50th Anniversary.
Mr and Mrs Evans rode in 19th Century attire.
“I’ve fallen off the Penny Farthing a few times, and i don’t want to fall off again,” he said.
“Cycling slowly is difficult because you can’t reach the ground with your legs.
“I had to weave a few times to keep upright.”
Mrs Evans, who rode an 1882 Lewis Commodore high wheel tricycle, said they usually wore safety equipment when not entering parades.
Pilots from Warracknabeal Airport also made a number of passes over the Scott Street Parade.
Soon after the parade finished, the busking competition got underway in Flora-Fauna Park.
Singers, musicians and other performers lined up to compete for considerable cash prizes.
The competition offered a first prize of $1000, second $450 and 3rd $250, with an Alan Shaw Junior Encouragement Award of $100 and a Local Encouragement Award $100.
There was also an Act Out Award of $200 on offer for other than musical busking.
The YFest Art Show and Vintage Machinery Rally will continue until Easter Monday.