Following a tough two years of pandemic-related setbacks, TatFest is back on Sunday, March 5 at Tatura’s Mactier Gardens on Hogan St.
The last festival squeezed itself in a week before 2020’s COVID-19 lockdowns began.
Tatura Lions Club member Glenda McLeod said this made 2023’s TatFest the fifth iteration in the past seven years.
“Last year was a last-minute cancellation — people were still hesitant about COVID at the time, and we were unable to get enough food stalls,” she said.
Booking food stalls has again been “difficult”, but that won’t affect the event’s proceedings.
Amusements and attractions, on the other hand, will be the opposite of far and few between.
Tatura Lions Club secretary Malcolm Campbell said the free kids’ entertainment would feature a Tiny Tails petting zoo, face painting, train rides, a bouncing castle, pedal cars and more.
Among other local bands and singers, Kyabram Bush Verse Group and Sacred Heart school band are scheduled to perform.
Returning to TatFest are demonstrations from the CFA, SES and Ambulance Victoria.
Dr Campbell said he was looking forward to seeing the community’s involvement once again, including Tatura Primary School.
“We’ve got an arrangement with the local primary school — we provide canvases and each class does a piece of artwork,” he said.
“We then auction them off on the day and the money raised is shared between the Tatura Lions Club and Tatura Primary School.”
Tatura Lions Club receives a grant from the Lions Club International Foundation matching the amount of money raised from the event.
“TatFest was developed to benefit the town,” Dr Campbell said.
“Our 2020 TatFest raised $10,000 to refurbish the Tatura Library, previously we’ve put money towards a new bus and new beds for the hospital.
“Everything goes back into the community.”
More information about the upcoming TatFest can be found on the TatFest website and Facebook page.