With dragon boats, Aqua Man and a spectacular light show, this year’s Shoalhaven River Festival put on a memorable performance! After a brief hiatus due to covid-19, a brand new committee worked tirelessly to put on a local event that drew a crowd from near and far.
With the Nowra bridge in construction, the new festival location along Wharf road and Riverview Road was the precinct of market stalls, food trucks and amusement attractions. The leading stage entertainment included performances from Negative Space, Phonophobia, Symmetry and Traffic Control and artists Renae McArdell and Sian Ludlow from Stella Studioz added energy to the festival’s atmosphere.
There were also changes to the evening program, including replacing the fireworks with a light show. Much of the community embraced these changes after feedback from previous events. A spokesperson from the festival stated, “Many of us love fireworks, but we wanted to move in the right direction, and we truly believe that a light show will provide as much enjoyment for the young, the young at heart and our pets.”
There were also many interactive services, including the Marine Rescue and Rural Fire Service Water Display. Also included in the program were significant cultural ceremonies, including the Welcome to Country, Indigenous Dancers and Rainbow Serpent display on the Pontoon Stage.
All organisers, volunteers and community groups helped contribute to a successful Shoalhaven River Festival; we look forward to next’s year’s event!
Macey Insurance Brokers is the major sponsor of the 2022 Shoalhaven River Festival and profoundly appreciates the committee members and volunteers for hosting this event.