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A 45-float Grand Parade brought down the curtain on an “outstandingly successful” Burdekin Water Festival last Saturday. Photo: Jacob Casha.
A 45-float Grand Parade brought down the curtain on an “outstandingly successful” Burdekin Water Festival last Saturday.
Crowds lined Queen Street on 5th September for the marquee event which, alongside the Mardi Gras, brought an end to the three-month festival calendar.
Water Festival Committee President Eusebio Aguirre said the turnout—up on previous years— was a “pleasant surprise” and fitting end to this year's festival.
“With so much happening across the weekend, I thought attendance numbers might be down,” Eusebio said.
“The committee was absolutely ecstatic with the turnout.”
This year’s parade followed a “River Country Burdekin style” theme, with entrants leaning into the region’s rural character for their floats and costumes.
Eusebio said the theme added to the atmosphere and reflected the region’s community spirit.
“The smiles on the faces of those in the parade and throughout the streets showed that people were having a fantastic time,” he said.
“I also spoke to several visitors from out of town who had never attended the Water Festival before, and their reaction was simply: ‘Wow, I've never seen anything like this before.’”
The weekend capped off a landmark festival that broke tradition by celebrating both Junior and Senior Ambassadors at the QMN Crowning Lunch the weekend before.
Eusebio said the new Photography Competition was also a standout success, naming it alongside the Garden Competition and Window Display Competition as calendar highlights.
He was quick to praise the efforts of sponsors, ambassadors, committee members and volunteers who brought the event to fruition. With the dust barely settled, sights are already set on next year’s iteration.
“The Water Festival is an event that benefits the entire community. It brings people together and creates a sense of pride and connection throughout the Burdekin… We look forward to making next year's festival even bigger and better.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or joining the committee can contact Eusebio Aguirre on 0499 199 767.
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