Ipswich Festival a celebration of arts, culture and music

More hours of entertainment will be featured in an action-packed Ipswich Festival from April 11-14.

The festival will run over four fun-filled days and nights which offer people and visitors to Ipswich an opportunity to experience the city’s arts, culture and music.

Interim Administrator Greg Chemello said the festival would feature all the favourite events of previous years, including the Parade of Light, Fire on the River, Jazz and Blues, Art Awards and Unmasked.

“This is set to be a true celebration of Ipswich as a cultural hub in Southeast Queensland,” Mr Chemello said of the festival, now under Ipswich City Council management.

“We want the Ipswich Festival to be a prominent feature of the Queensland events calendar, which gives people even more reason to visit this fine city.”

Fire on the River, best viewed from Riverlink Shopping Centre, will kick off the festival on Thursday night, April 11.

The focus then turns to Festival Village, the hub of the festival which will be housed at Timothy Molony Park.

Visitors can look forward to uniquely specialised workshops, main stage performances, The Arena for young children and youth, and of course a variety of food and drink.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the lights beaming from the fig trees around the village,” Mr Chemello said.

“It’s important to note that there will still be the traditional events which have been popular in the past. The Festival Village adds to this, giving people a place to enjoy the atmosphere of this growing event.

“People will be able to chill out during the day, and put their party shoes on after dark with some big names in entertainment expected to be announced soon.”

Festival Village will be open from 10.30am until 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and until 5.30pm on Sunday.

Highlights include:

• The Parade of Light will be on Saturday April 13 from 6pm until 6.45pm through the main streets of Ipswich. It will feature large lantern effigies, musical and dance performances, street theatre and community group participation.
• Jazz and Blues will be held Sunday April 14 from 11am to 6pm in Festival Village.
• Honk! in Ellenborough St is a display of vintage, veteran and classic cars on Saturday April 13. It all links up with the restaurants in the Top of Town precinct where rockabilly bands and dancing will provide the flavour of the day.
• Children’s workshops and interactive activities will be presented within a magical area of the Festival Village from April 12-14.
• Unmasked provides school students to express their creativity by painting a 1.5m mask which will be on display at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Brisbane St, from April 8-14.
• The Ipswich Arts Awards has operated since the year 2000 and attracts entries from throughout Australia. Art will be displayed at Fire Station 101, 101 Limestone St, and cash prizes will go to “best of show”, painting, drawing, fine art sculpture, photography, and print making.

Mr Chemello is encouraging all Ipswich businesses who would like to be part of the festival to contact council’s call centre to speak with festival organisers.

“This is a great opportunity to show what Ipswich has to offer, and everyone should have the chance to be part of this great event,” he said.