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Mooroopna NYE Festival celebrates 40 years

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Lit: The event will conclude with fireworks at 10.45pm. Photo by McPherson Media

Dust off the blankets and chairs, buy some raffle tickets and get friends and family together for the 40th anniversary of the New Year’s Eve Festival held by the Mooroopna Rotary Club.

The free community event is on once again at the John Gray Oval, Mooroopna Recreation Reserve this Saturday for an evening of entertainment, food and drinks, rides and raffles.

Kicking off the evening’s festivities will be a street parade, with all participants lining up at 6pm for a 6.30pm drive from the service road at O’Brien St and Midland Hwy.

Convoy: The Mooroopna NYE Festival parade is back for 2022. Photo by Simon Bingham

Mooroopna Rotary Club president Barb Joyce is excited for the return of the New Year’s Eve celebration after a long standstill due to COVID-19.

“It’s been three years since we’ve held the event, and we’re so glad to be back and able to do it again,” she said.

Ms Joyce said all were welcome to come along from 5.30pm onwards to set up their chairs and blankets, with the return of live acts performing after 6.45pm.

“We have four acts that have been supporting us, some for 10 to 12 years even, including Kamali Lamba, Monga Mukasa, The Wong Brother and SMAC.”

Pitch perfect: Monga Mukasa is one of the acts that will return to the stage for New Year’s Eve. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

In addition to the live music, there will be kids’ entertainment, the crayfish spinning wheel and one lucky raffle winner will be driving into the new year in style thanks to the Hyundai i30 Active prize.

Ms Joyce said she was looking forward to seeing the fireworks light up the Mooroopna sky once again to conclude the celebrations.

“The Mooroopna New Year’s Eve Festival is our way of saying thank you to the community for their support throughout the year,” Ms Joyce said.

“We like to do something special and be a safe place for people to come, enjoy some good entertainment and help us bring in the new year.”

More information about the Mooroopna Rotary Club, including events and memberships, can be found via www.rotarymooroopna.com.au