The Cessnock CBD will be transformed into an extravaganza of wine, food and fun on Sunday, April 17 when the inaugural Cessnock Stomp Festival will take place.
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The Stomp Festival is set to become a new signature event for Cessnock – a remixed civic celebration that organisers hope will reinvoke memories of the BudFest and Vintage festivals of the past.
Pop-up wineries and restaurants, market stalls and entertainment will line Vincent Street, which will be closed from Hall Street to Wollombi Road.
Sustainable Cessnock coordinator Ian Mackey says the festival will be a celebration of the city’s people, culture and lifestyle.
“The festival will be an exciting, diverse mix of entertainment, display, experience, fun and a major opportunity to showcase local wineries, businesses and restaurants that are part of the destination,” Mr Mackey said.
“It’s something unique and different for Cessnock, and hopefully we can grow and develop it over the next four or five years.”
Cessnock Chamber of Commerce president Geoff Walker said the festival will be “an opportunity to bring the vineyards into town, like we used to”.
As of Tuesday morning, 19 vineyards had signed up to be part of the festival.
Highlights will include the Great Cessnock Stomp, a winemakers’ breakfast, Mad Hatter’s High Tea, Bubble Lane, Beer-Vana, a fashion parade, live entertainment and a kids’ alley.
For stallholder or sponsorship inquiries, contact Ian Mackey on 0414 496 493 or email ian@cre8ingevents. com.au.
The Cessnock Stomp Festival will be held the day after the final show of the concert season, the Red Hot Summer Tour featuring Jimmy Barnes at Hunter Valley Gardens.
Other concerts still to come this summer and autumn include Simply Red (Bimbadgen Estate, February 20), Rob Thomas (Hope Estate, February 27), Hoodoo Gurus, Violent Femmes and the Sunnyboys (Bimbadgen, March 5), Bryan Adams (Bimbadgen, March 12) and Chris Isaak (Bimbadgen, April 9).
Meanwhile, another new festival in the local government area, the Wollombi Classic Film Festival will take place from February 26 to 28.
The eclectic program features six films across 40-plus years of cinema across two venues.
Organiser Adrian Buckley said he hopes the festival will be the beginning of a larger film festival in Wollombi in future years.
“It’s going to be a great addition to the town that certainly punches above its weight when it comes to hosting great cultural events in Wine Country,” Mr Buckley said.
Also sure to draw huge visitor numbers to the area is this year’s Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival.
The Nostalgia Festival will return for its 13th year from March 18 to 20 (a weekend earlier than usual, due to Easter falling on the last weekend of March).
A celebration of the ‘50s and ‘60s era, the festival draws more than 30,000 people to Kurri over three days, with classic cars, rock ‘n’ roll music and dancing, and vintage fashion among the drawcards.
Towns With Heart community projects manager Lesley Morris said it’s shaping up to be another fantastic weekend, with all of the usual attractions such as the Shannon’s Show and Shine, the retro marketplace, best dressed competitions and lots of entertainment.