It may not feel like it with all the inclement weather we’ve been having, but it’s spring and events are starting to sprout around Wagga after lying dormant for the winter months.
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But without the community getting behind these events, Wagga’s events calendar will never fully bloom.
The Riverina Truck Show and Kids’ Convoy attracted a reasonably healthy 8000 people past its gates on Saturday.
The event is only in its third year, but from the outside looking in, it seems like the day is going from strength to strength.
It goes to show if you have the support of a strong community, such as the trucking industry, it can help pave the way to a successful event.
The Spring Street Festival is another example.
Despite clashing with the popular Ag races meeting at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, the second running of the festival managed to get about 5000 people to the Victory Memorial Gardens last weekend to discover local produce, food stalls and entertainment for children and big kids alike.
A live band on the steps of the council chambers was a rare treat.
Wagga residents have a tendency to dip their toes in the water of new events, but then decide it’s too cold to jump in.
This fickle nature not only hurts creating annual events showcasing the best our city offers, but can hurt fledgling businesses get the footing needed to survive in this harsh economic climate.
An innovative golf centre in the main street, which allowed patrons to virtually play on famous golf courses around the world, fell to a premature death.
The go-kart centre on Nagle Street stayed afloat for a while before residents grew bored. Let’s hope the track recently opened receives the support needed to thrive.
There are exceptions – the paintball arena in east Wagga seems to be surviving the test of time.
Wagga council needs to do more to help promote, organise and co-ordinate these new events with the ones already established, not only in Wagga, but in smaller towns around the region.
Yes, it’s a big job co-ordinating what goes where and when across the Riverina, but massive tourist drawcards such as the Wagga Food and Wine Festival should never clash with Tumbarumba’s Tumbafest, which would have overlapping interests for prospective patrons.
