The Whittlesea Country Music Festival returns this weekend with a vast mix of musical styles, food trucks and carnival rides.
The festival is at Walker Reserve, in Laurel Steet, Whittlesea, from 3.30pm to 10pm with free entry.
Attendees can bring a rug or chair and enjoy their own picnic or purchase food from the food trucks while enjoying the atmosphere.
Ross Wilson will headline the night, alongside performances from Shanae Watson, a Whittlesea singer who appeared on The Voice last year, Cush Ryder, Independent Country Music Award’s Most Popular Female Artist winner Hayley Jenson, and Golden Guitar nominee for Male Artist of the Year Andrew Swift.
Organiser Tony Holding said he hoped for a great turnout.
“The more people that turn up just shows there’s a need for a free music event in the north of the City of Whittlesea municipality,” he said.
“It’s a free, family-friendly event. You can bring your own food and there’s also food trucks and a few stalls but not too many because we focus on the music really.”
The event has been entertaining the Whittlesea area since 2000 and has been free for the past 10 years.
“We’re supported by the community groups so without the local community group support – like from the cricket club, bowls club, agricultural society, committee of management for example – we don’t exist,” Mr Holding said.
“It’s for the community by the community.”
Whittlesea Bowls Club will also host a country music event on Friday night, in conjunction with the festival, featuring Long and Short of It, and Alan Fletcher.
More information on the festival is available at whittleseacountrymusicfestival.com.au or via the Whittlesea Country Music Festival Facebook page.
