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Now in its 65th year, Tumut's Festival of the Falling Leaf has become a local institution, despite going through a number of changes in format.
This year will see a somewhat scaled-back version, due to a decrease in committee volunteers and a turnover in the executive roles, however the show must go on and so it will, on Saturday April 27.
Commencing at 9am and operating until approximately 4pm will be the Tumut Lion's Market, held at the Railway Precinct adjacent to the Snowy Mountains Highway.
The jewel in the festival's crown has always been the highly-anticipated street parade in Wynyard Street, which encompasses school, community and sporting groups, local businesses, car clubs and historic vehicles, all of which come together to showcase their services or products to the crowds of interested onlookers.
Participants are encouraged to dress up their float and/or members, limited only by their imaginations, and interact with the spectators as they pass.
Previous years have sometimes incorporated a particular theme; this year the committee have left that open and are asking those involved to show what autumn in Tumut means to them, or simply what they offer.
Part of the magic of the parade is the ongoing commentary, ably provided by Captain Fire and Rescue NSW Tumut Station, Mick Ivill, and local radio personality, Dave Eisenhauer, which is not only broadcast through speakers down Wynyard Street, but is also played via a live feed on local radio station, 96.3 Sounds of the Mountains, one of the festival's primary sponsors.
It is a unique service and one which is welcomed by those members of the community who are unable to attend in person. At the completion of the parade, the major fundraising raffle will be drawn, with the winners announced live over radio and in Wynyard Street.
A change to this year's format has seen the Street Parade moved to 2pm.
This change not only means that local shopkeepers in the central business district can enjoy a full morning's trade without interruption to parking and shop access, but also enables local sporting groups to be back in time from their sporting endeavours to participate in and enjoy the parade.
A number of businesses will also be staying open later in the day than usual to accommodate locals and tourists alike.
Rounding off the festivities will be the spectacular First Super Fireworks display, held at the Tumut Bull Paddock, commencing at 7.30pm.
The fireworks remain on the festival program thanks to generous sponsors, First Super,the display always takes the festival out with a bang.