A festival is only Festivale when patrons bring the friendship that a close-knit community often generates.
“You’ve been chatting, haven’t you?” quickly followed with a gathering of friends now engaged in the repartee, not unaccustomed to such discussions at social events.
“The lines are long, it is a magnificent evening, just fantastic for Launceston,” he offered in a deflecting plea of mitigation, which failed to impress.
“I walked ten paces and then stopped to chat and then another ten and had another chat,” he elaborated, with intent to distract, but becoming less convincing with every word. A broad smile and twinkle in his eye eventuated as a result of the encounter. A poker face was not body language that could be successfully delivered.
She returned the smile, safe in the knowledge that happiness had flown from several light-hearted conversations, which he would never fully commit to memory.
Festivale is one of the city’s favourite events of the social calendar. 1988 is a distant memory when the original Festivale took to the streets of Launceston, encouraging patrons to experience the variety of food and culture that the city could muster.
In stark contrast, Festivale 2019 at Launceston’s City Park will welcome approximately 25,000 people. The park is beautiful, iconic and steeped in colonial history. However, the palawa are the first peoples of the land on which City Park now stands.
For further information please visit: https://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/Exhibitions/Now-Showing/Permanent/The-First-Tasmanians-Our-Story and
https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Living-in-Launceston/History or https://www.festivale.com.au/
The gardens, comprising seven acres, were gifted to the Town Council (1858) in 1863, prior to the declaration of a City, which occurred in 1888 (effective from 1 January 1899), after the land began its life as the home of Launceston’s Government House in 1827.
Thankfully the zoo, which showcased monkeys and a variety of other species closed in 1979. Although, the park continued to host native macropods and ducks that probably shouldn’t have been fed white loaves of bread when families went to visit.
The monkeys have been an important exhibit at the park for many years. Launceston City Council formalised a Sister City agreement with Ikeda in 1965 and Japanese macaques became the showpiece. The current enclosure, Monkey Island, was opened in 1980 with the curious animals entertaining generations of locals and visitors alike with their antics promoting wonder and laughter in equal measure.
To enjoy a festival in a park where most have ridden with Little Toot, which began its route in 1960, revives a host of memories. Finding Northern Tasmanians who haven’t spent an afternoon at City Park with a ride on the train as a treat would be extremely difficult.
Festivale doesn’t conclude without regular commentary regarding how expensive it is to attend and that the park belongs to the rate payers, inferring that entry should be free.
Ironically, in 1841, Launceston’s City Park was known as the People’s Park and a small fee was charged for entry. No doubt upkeep and expansion were the rationale, with continuous investment resulting in the modern-day park offering free entry for almost every day each year.
The cost of infrastructure to accommodate 25,000 people in safe and comfortable surroundings is significant. Without even considering the incredible number of volunteer hours from the committee, Rotarians, and loyal locals, the cost of toilets, security, waste collection, music and street entertainment, and extension of the festival to offsite attractions is substantial.
The economic benefit to the city far outweighs the cost of entry, which remains both fair and reasonable.
A festival is only Festivale when patrons bring the friendship that a close-knit community often generates.
Festivale embraces food, wine, beer, cider, spirits, but most importantly it embraces uninhibited camaraderie; happiness without worrying about who, what, when, why or how. The goal is immersing yourself in each other’s company.
“I am off to find dinner for us,” he announced.
“What are we having?” she replied.
“I have no idea, but I’ll go to the toilet first,” having succumbed to visiting the banks of portables, with long and patient lines delivering opportunities for mind over matter control.
"We’ll see you in forty-minutes," she retorted.
“Righto!” he chortled, still unconvincing, but determined to further experience the joy that chatting at Festivale always delivers.
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