Join in the fun of Crows Nest celebrations

The Crows Nest area is getting ready to party as residents prepare for a weeklong extravaganza of fun and excitement from Saturday, October 15.

The district comes alive with a host of events, competitions and displays that capture the very heart of the community and promise a load of laughs and entertainment.

Here's just some of the fun:

• Crows Nest Heritage Festival. Carbethon Museum, Crows Nest. Saturday, October 15. Relive an earlier era and enjoy activities with the youngsters such as marbles and egg and spoon races.
• InStudio Art Trail. Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16. Grab a brochure from the Hampton Information Centre and, from 10am until 4pm, wend your way around the area and share time with our Artists in Residence. Hampton Vic 4697 9066.
• Community Dinner thanks to the Crows Nest Australia Day Committee. Tuesday, October 18 at the Community and RSL Hall. Presentation to community of Citizens of the Year Honour Board. Guest artist: Pixie Jenkins. Prebook for catering on 0409 874 147.
• Crow's Nest Garden Club Forum, Centenary Park, Crows Nest. Wednesday, October 19. Special guest: Brian Sams. Speakers, stalls, displays. 9am-1.30pm. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   And at 7.30pm in the big tent in the park, Dr Holly Parsons talks about birds in the back yard.
• Lions Club of Crows Nest worm racing night. 6.30pm. Wednesday, October 19. Crows Nest Bowls Club. 4698 1538
• Breakfast in the Park. Thursday, October 20. Worm racing. Run by the Crows Nest State School P&C - free entry, gold coin donation to the P&C. 6.30am - 8am. Get into the festival spirit.

It all culminates in Crows Nest Day which is on Saturday, October 22 at Centenary Park, Crows Nest.

The fun-filled day is part of Family Week and there will be free admission to the park and to competitions such as hay stacking, worm racing, crow calling, whip cracking and hobby horse races for the under 8s.

The fun run starts at 7.30am and the evening finishes with the Heritage Building Society fireworks at 7.30pm.

There'll be carnival rides and whip cracking at 10am and a procession at noon followed by the Perseverance Cup for racing worms at 3pm.

Entertainment is provided by Jer Gregg from Nashville, USA, Mick Lindsay, Tall Poppies, African drummers and Bollywood Belles and you won't go hungry with a Lions barbecue, spit roast dinner, stalls and a bar.

And don't forget the Bush Poets Breakfast at the Pioneer Village, Highfields. Sunday October 23. Guests include Jack Drake and Max Jarrott. There'll be walk-up poet cash prizes and a writing workshop at smoko. Tickets from Rhonda's Refits in Toowoomba, Chapman's Entertainment in Crow's Nest, at the Village or on the day. 4696 6309.

For more information go to www.crowsnestfestival.com.au