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This year marks our 21st birthday - our coming
of age - and we want you to help us celebrate. Aside
from the usual activities around the site, we have some
special events planned. Further details can be found on pages
8 and 9.
The Festival is not just about watching a concert. There is so much
else to see and do.
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LOTUS TENT
The Lotus Tent is an initiative of a group of Bega Valley women. It’s a
place to explore and deepen a connection to the earth and the local
landscape using art, music, storytelling in a supportive environment.
All are welcome to join the activities in the Lotus Tent. See the
Festival map for its location and page 9 for scheduled activities.
NESTIVAL (CHILL-OUT ZONE)
Festivals can be frenetic and exhausting for some people. (Try playing
in three or four different bands…). This year we’re introducing the
NESTival, a space on site for you to sit in comfortable chairs, relax
and just unwind. Look for the Chill-out Zone on the Festival map.
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A new, dedicated venue for Spoken Word events will be introduced
this year. The Poets’ Supper and Breakfasts and the Ideas from the
Edge forums will be held here.
EXTENDED BAR AREA
The area in which you can consume alcohol bought from our bar
has been extended for 2016 - see the Map on page 36 for the area
covered by our Liquor License.
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MORNING YOGA
Start your day on Saturday and Sunday with a relaxing Yoga session -
all welcome, no experience necessary!
OPENING CEREMONY
Our official opening ceremony including the Welcome to Country will
be at 11:00am on Saturday in the Mumbulla venue.
BLACKBOARDS
Blackboards provide an opportunity for everyone to participate.
Whether a novice or experienced performer, you can add your name
to a Blackboard for an “Open Mic” concert on Friday or Saturday
evening or Sunday afternoon, in the Yuin. There will also be some
Blackboard spots available at the Lotus Tent. Please see Venue
Managers for bookings.
Note: Preference is given to performers who are not
booked elsewhere at the Festival.
SPOKEN WORD
Calling all poets, yarn spinners,
historians, joke tellers, and you get-up-
and-have-a go-folk! Don’t miss the Poets’
Supper on Friday evening hosted by Vic
Jefferies and the ever popular Poets’
Breakfast each morning from 8am in the
new The Yarnin’ venue - hosted by Vic
Jefferies on Saturday and Russell Hannah
on Sunday.
If you’ve never been to one – and I know
a lot of our younger patrons may not have
– you will be very surprised. Join in or
just come and listen.
STREET THEATRE
Street theatre is an integral part of most festivals and Cobargo is no
different. Look out for a choir or other street performers who pop up
around the site.
WORKSHOPS
Some of the best and most interesting times you can have at our
Festival are at the wide range of workshops where performers let
you into some of the secrets of their trade – a peek behind the stage
performance.
This year the offerings are outstanding particularly some of the
instrumental classes from the likes of Beth Patterson on the bouzouki,
the Diddly Dee Director, Gino Lupari on the bodhran, harmony singing
from Stray Hens, Irish fiddle from Sean Regan. And who could resist
Fred Smith’s offer to teach you how to sing in New Guinea Pidgin, a
fascinating composite language spoken by our nearest neighbours.
With around 20 different workshops for instruments, dance, singing
and spoken word scheduled over the Festival you will be sure to find
something that will inspire you.
See pages 14 to 16 for further details.
KIDS PROGRAM
We have a great program to entertain younger kids at the Festival and
we like to think we’re helping their parents have a more enjoyable
time in the process.
Held at the child-friendly Bunyip site little kids and grown up kids
can do Maypole with Molly, silly songs for kids from Farmer Mick and
Miss Jane, action songs and dressing up and a kids parade from the
Puddin’ Eaters, and even someone singing about chickens. Heavens,
where is the world going to? See page 17 for further information.
And even if you who don’t have littlies to look after any more, do
drop by and see the quality of Australia’s children’s entertainment
nowadays.