It’s Not Just Apples At The Granny Smith Festival!

Thursday, 24 September 2009

The City of Ryde’s biggest and most popular festival is a true community carnival, full of colour, variety, entertainment and good old fashioned fun.

The annual Granny Smith Festival celebrates the life and legacy of one of our district’s most famous citizens, Maria Ann Smith – aka Granny Smith – who, back in 1868, ‘accidentally’ grew the first batch of little green apples that bear her name and are now grown all over the world.

From sun up to sun down, Eastwood buzzes with colour and excitement, kicking off with the ever-popular Street Parade, featuring marching bands, dancers, floats and stilt walkers.

The precinct will be decked out with colourful flags, and there will be 280 variety stalls selling food from around the world, craft, jewellery, clothing and much more.

Six performance stages will showcase local talent, with entertainment for everyone, and there will be jumping castles and carnival rides for the kids at Eastwood Oval.

‘The Core’ is a cool place for local teens to hang out with friends, enjoy live music by local bands, and take part in youth-focused activities. This year there will be skate ramps, a climbing wall and much more! ‘The Core’ will run from 1.00 – 5.00pm at the Hillview Lane Car Park and Glen Reserve.

In the evening the Festival wraps up with a Family Concert, commencing at 6.45pm at Eastwood Oval. Tribute band Desperado will be performing ‘The Eagles Show: the songs that shaped the 70s’. This will be followed by a Fireworks Spectacular at 8.00pm.

When: Saturday 17 October 2008, 9.00am – 8.30pm
Where: Eastwood Shopping Precinct and Eastwood Oval, (Rowe and Trelawney Streets, Eastwood).
For further information go to www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/grannysmithfestival or call 952 8222.

The Granny Smith Festival is proudly sponsored by:

• Gold Sponsors:  Batlow Apples, ANZ and Macquarie Centre
• Bronze Sponsors: Macquarie Community College, Ayam, Quest and Ryde Eastwood Leagues
  

Highlights

• 10.00am Grand Street Parade – over 2,000 participants – floats, marching bands, dancers, Granny Smith descendents, Granny Smith Apple Character ‘Sweetie Pie’, street performers, vintage cars, jugglers and clowns.
• 6.45pm Family Concert – Tribute band Desperado presents ‘The Eagles Show’, the songs that shaped the 70s. 
• 8.00pm Fireworks Spectacular

Food and Crafts

International Foods  Chinese, Thai, Indian, Dutch, German, Spanish, African, Aussie Sausage Sizzle, Turkish, Italian Gelato, Sushi, plus juicebar, ice cream, fairyfloss
280 stalls Jewellery, artefacts, fashion, showbags, craft, plants, Council Information Stall, emergency service stall.

Kids Stuff

• Carnival Rides, Jumping Castle, Animal farm – baby lambs, goats, ducks, chickens, pigs
• Sporting Star - Kids Sports Area
• Singing Star - Karaoke
• Children’s entertainment
• Wild Aussies
• The Core Youth Zone Rocks - 1-5pm - Local bands, youth information bureau, skate set up, amusements (climbing wall, mechanical bull, gladiator dual -to be confirmed)