ROSES, ranunculus and rhododendrons will replace racehorses and running rails in early November – Melbourne Cup week – when Armidale racecourse hosts the New England Garden Festival on November 2-3.
The two-day event is part of a week-long gardening and growing expo across the New England region, including open garden events at Walcha, Uralla, Guyra, Glen Innes and Tenterfield.
Money raised in each town stays in that town to support Can Assist and community support groups.
Nearly 100 market stalls are booked in for the weekend event at the racecourse, offering everything needed for the garden – plants, hats, gloves, garden tools and stunning handmade garden ornaments.
Coffee and food outlets will be available on-site.
Gardening guru, television star Costa Georgiadis, will open the festival weekend with an evening presentation at the Armidale Ex-Services Club on Friday, November 1.
New England Garden Festival committee president, Lou Forsythe, said the entire New England district will be showcased.
“Tickets for Friday night are five-dollars and can be bought online or at the door,” Lou said.
“We encourage people to come along and listen to Costa’s gardening gems.”
Lou said entertainers, the Memphis Movers, will be “rovin’ and movin’” throughout the festival.
“Try not to miss their mini finale parade, where balloons will be twisted and turned to create fun creatures,” Lou said.
“Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men also make a welcomed return, along with slightly inappropriate gardening ladies who are sure to make everyone laugh.”
There will be eight New England open gardens, providing hours of enjoyment for seasoned, green-thumbed gardeners as well as tyros seeking advice and inspiration.
The open gardens will be available for viewing between 9.30am and 5pm on Saturday and 9.30am, and 2pm Sunday.
Times for all open gardens across the week, as well as maps, tickets and information are at the festival’s website, https://negf.com.au/.
“There will be a five-dollar entry fee to each garden. There are two accessible by bus only, and these will be eight-dollars per person,” Lou said.
“Special attractions like the Lawn Mower Racing Demonstrations and the BackTrack Dog High Jump are great additions – both are so different but guaranteed to be talking points.
“Festival music will be a showcase of the rich talent evident in all the schools in Armidale and special thanks to Leanne Roobol and Sally Spillane for their inclusive co-ordination.
“Workshops form the basis of our aim to educate gardeners and extensive choice and topics are available,” Lou said.
The New England Garden Trail commences on Thursday, October 31 in Walcha where three private, cool climate, country gardens are open to the public from 9am until 2pm.
“After the gardens close, visitors are encouraged to explore the local towns and what makes each one so special,” Lou said.
The Trail continues the following day to Uralla, where three open gardens will be open from 9am until 2pm.
“Visitors have the chance to explore Uralla in the afternoon, then head to Armidale for the Festival weekend – and what a weekend that will be,” Lou said.
The Garden Trail focuses on Guyra on Monday, November 4, then Glen Innes on November 5.
“There will be Melbourne Cup celebrations and three beautiful gardens to visit, with the Garden Trail finishing in Tenterfield on Wednesday, November 6.
“The New England Garden Trail is guaranteed to provide participants with seven days of gardening delights, across six country towns to view nearly 20 private, cool climate gardens. What’s not to love about that,” Lou smiled.
New England Garden Festival
Where: Armidale racecourse
When: Saturday-Sunday, November 2-3
New England Garden Trail: Each day from Friday, October 31 to Wednesday, November 6.
Info: 0431 711100 or newegf@gmail.com
Website: https://negf.com.au/
