It might be getting cold outside, but the entertainment is warming up in Echuca-Moama this winter.
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Echuca Moama Tourism chief executive Kathryn Mackenzie has celebrated the arrival of the colder months in the twin towns with the ‘Entertain Winter’ calendar of events, which includes the biggest events this season.
“In summer, we know people flock to the river, but in the wintertime, the water and water activities might not be as attractive,” she said.
“What we’ve tried with Entertain Winter in Echuca-Moama is to build that calendar of events around our big night-time events so people can come from afar for multi-night stays.”
The end of July will see a big weekend of music in the twin towns with the Winter Blues Festival finally back on the calendar and free for the public to enjoy after two years of disruptions.
“It’s the 22nd anniversary of the Winter Blues Festival, which they’ve been trying to hold for two years,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“It’s always free, and I think that’s the beauty of it: it is free, and people can graze in and around the music events they want.”
Ms Mackenzie said the social aspect of the event was part of the attraction.
“I think it’s a festive feel of embracing the cold, great music, great food, great friendships and good cheer,” she said.
“Originally it was started because it was cold and to bring people to town, but it’s got its own brand now of just really fun, great music, great hospitality and it’s all within walking distance — it just works.
“We’re lucky to have that, and we have an amazing audience that come year after year.”
Moama Lights, this year taking place on the newly constructed bridges at Horseshoe Lagoon, will be able to host more people keen to enjoy the storytelling of our region.
Ms McKenzie said she believed the event to be of world-class quality.
“I know there are a lot of light events around, but I think the beauty of this event is that it’s held in a nature reserve and how it encapsulates you,” she said.
“It’s in the canopy of the river red gums, it’s in reflections on the water courses and being on the bridges, it’s under you as well — you’re really encapsulated in this kaleidoscope of light.”
Ms Mackenzie celebrated the storytelling of First Nations people during last year’s Moama Lights, and said that people were really wanting to hear more of the beautifully told stories.
“It has a community feel — it told our colonial story and our Indigenous story,” she said.
“It’s much more than just lights, it’s that storytelling that goes with it.
“I really congratulate Murray River Council for making that investment to bring it to our community again.”
For those interested in more action and precision, the Australian Darts Open and the Pacific Masters and Australian Championships Darts competitions will be held in early August, with opportunities for locals to get involved in the action.
“The darts events bring a really select audience to town from all over Australia and internationally to Echuca-Moama,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“We’re working with them to make sure they can bring their partners as well so they can stay longer at the destination and enjoy their time here.
“We know that between July and August when we are at our coldest time, people are often cocooned in at home, and it’s harder to get people out.
“Having big events like we have attracts different audiences to our town.”
Besides the major events of the season, there are a number of smaller more regular events happening every weekend over winter to keep us warm and entertained.
“We’re really lucky that where we live straddles two wine regions, with the Heathcote or Mt Camel area of the Campaspe Shire, and the Perricoota wine region,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“It’s really showcasing what we’ve got here and putting tours to it.”
Most of our local wineries and restaurants are offering tours, tasting opportunities and unique experiences for locals and visitors alike.
St Anne’s is offering a ‘Cocoa and Vino’ tasting, which includes a wine and liqueur tasting board with matching chocolates and truffles, a Ploughman’s platter and a bottle of wine.
Domaine Asmara is offering a ‘Viticulturist for a Day’ experience, which teaches people about vine pruning alongside wine tasting and lunch.
Riverbank Moama is presenting a Bastille Day dinner featuring can-can dancers, five courses of French cuisine and paired French wine.
Meet the Makers tasting sessions will be taking place at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre, promoting our local producers and offering samples of some of their creations, as well as the regular market schedule taking place over the winter months.
“We’ve tried to put a really beautiful program together, and on our website we’ll continue to add more experiences as they are developed,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“It’s time to encourage our local community to enjoy what we’ve got on our doorstep, and we’d hope they’ll showcase it to their friends and family and bring them from afar to enjoy it.
“Aren’t we lucky that we’re this relatively small community, but look what we’ve got.
“I think we’re all hungry for it after two years of not really being able to get out and about.”
For more information about events happening in Echuca-Moama, or to view the Entertain Winter events calendar, visit www.echucamoama.com/entertain-winter-in-echuca-moama-program