Big weekend ahead: Van and Chett Cox with River and Winter Townsend. The Town Garage Sale on Saturday is a warm up for the noon-4pm Tongala Eats and Beats Festival on Sunday on a weekend when the tiny township of Tongala will come alive for a 48 hour period.
Tongala’s Eats and Beats Festival will come to life for a third straight year this weekend as the momentum of the community event continues to build on the back of an inspired bunch of development group members who started out with the simple goal of bringing people back together - post COVID.
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They have certainly achieved that and are aiming to top last year’s 700 strong attendance at the festival, while also expecting the usual strong showing in Saturday’s annual Town Garage Sale.
Fifty one home owners have registered for the garage sale, with maps available from the Mangan Street kiosk at 7.30am for a gold coin donation.
There are eight “out of town’’ registrations, with some of the more interesting items including a vintage engine, piano accordion, WW2 ammunition box, potters wheel, above ground pool and a boat.
Amber Townsend, a senior figure in the Tongala Development Group, has combined with garage sale co-ordinator Kellie Brennan and a handful of the organisation’s executive to make the weekend a non-stop town promotion.
From the early hours of Saturday morning (October 7) until the late afternoon of Sunday the town will be the focus of bargain hunters, music and food lovers, market fanatics and the home town population that usually turns out in force to support the event.
Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura, Campaspe Shire and Tongala Op Shop have backed the four hour Eats and Beats event, which will start at noon on Sunday, October 8 and this year includes a street market.
Echuca singer Drew Walker, of The Voice fame, will appear last on the sound shell stage, with another talented Campaspe shire artist - Tim Richards - opening the festival.
Bumper weekend in store: Tongala’s Eats and Beats Festival on Sunday will follow hot on the heels of Saturday’s Town Garage Sale.
Splitting the pair will be Shepparton based Sunny Side Up Trio.
As if they didn’t have enough to do the development group volunteers will also be running a cash only sausage sizzle to offer a low cost option for Tongala families who choose to spend the afternoon on the lawns of the Tongala Sound Shell.
For the more high end connoisseurs there will be a range of options - among them Tongala based business The Smoothi Truck, Cheeky Beaver Ice Coffee Van, American style BBQ business The BBQ Den, Tiamo Twin Flame Pizza, ice cream from The Port Ice Creamery, Asian inspired dishes from Yum Yum May and the obligatory fairy floss from Tongala Primary School.
Entry to the alcohol free festival is by gold coin entry and there are a range of free kids games in a designated area to keep the younger participants entertained.
People should come armed with their picnic blankets and chairs for an event expected to further build on the buzzing vibe created by the town’s status in the area as a hub for street art, war memorials and community activity.
With the support of its major sponsors the development group has managed to keep the event as a low cost festival and been almost self sustaining with its focus on attracting local musical talent.
“Tongala is more connected than it has ever been. This event gives the various members of our sporting and community clubs the chance to catch up in a realaxed environment,” Amber Townsend said.
“It’s just a really nice arvo of music and fun.”
She said there would be 10 or more stalls involved in the market and she encouraged people to get involved at some stage on either Saturday or Sunday.
“It is a big weekend in Tongala with these two events, the junior football presentation and a bowls event. We hope not only the Tongala community, but those from the wider district, will call in at some stage to enjoy our event,” she said.
