A fine weather forecast this weekend on the back of 47,000 people attending Spring Into Corrimal in 2014 has organisers of the 2015 event predicting 50,000 people this Sunday.
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Corrimal Chamber of Commerce president Paul Boultwood said the committee been working hard since March and had teamed up with BlueJuice Events and Waples to really step up the publicity and promotion this year.
Mr Boultwood said there had also been more support from the business community led by major sponsor Corrimal RSL.
‘‘The community has all come together to make it a big day,’’ he said.
And while there may several thousand more people than last year they will be well catered for.
‘‘This has been the biggest community lead up that we have had. This year we are going to crack the 50,000.’’
But with that the number of stalls have increased from 235 to 270.
There will also be entertainment along the main street where there are two busking stages.
‘‘We have the international food arena down in Memorial Park and we also have chairs and tables there,’’Mr Boultwood said.
‘‘People can find what they want to eat and then sit down and watch the entertainment. We have more rides up in the top car park. There is main entertainment stage in memorial park and a kids entertainment stage in Railway Street. There is also the Ballet Shoppe down in Russell Street.’’
Mr Boultwood said the event was helping the community in many ways.
Festival goers are being encouraged to bring a can of food or non perishable item to help local charity Need A Feed put food on the table of other people who can use a hand.
‘‘We are also helping Thirroul Neighbourhood Centre and Circus Monoxide who will be performing at the intersection of Railway Street and Princes Hwy,’’ he said.
Everything is being spread over three to four blocks and more shops are open this year.
A highlight will be the parade at 10am.
‘‘We have close to 800 people this year in the parade,’’ Mr Boultwood said.
‘‘We are going from Short Street all the way down the Princes Hwy to Collins Street. Then at 11.30 we are going to kick off the official ceremony with the Corrimal Community of Schools Choir singing the national anthem followed by the official opening and naming of the Corrimal Citizen of the Year.’’
Mr Boultwood said the one thing the chamber could use was a few more volunteers for marshalling the parade and bumping-in and bumping-out.
There are presently around 30.
‘‘With Spring Into Corrimal now being the largest one day free family festival in all regional NSW, we are bringing people into Corrimal. It is putting Corrimal in the spotlight. And the amazing amount of money it brings into the local economy is unbelievable. After Spring Into Corrimal people come back because of that feel they had on that day. And that actually helps the shop owners. So in December we are going to have a big movie night to go with that later.’’
It is getting so big Karen Lepard, of Cossies R Us, is putting on more staff for Sunday.
Being in the same location for seven years she has seen the festival grow from a family fun day to an amazing event.
‘‘It is a hectic and big day for us,’’ she said.
‘‘There is a lot of planning that goes on before this. I would say at least 2000 people went through the shop last year.’’
Ms Lepard plans to arrive to work about 4.30am.
Dianna Ford, of Interflora, is planning to enjoy the day with her family as a participant and had nothing but praise for Mr Boultwood.
‘‘He is brilliant,’’ she said.
‘‘He really has done well for Corrimal. He has got so much happening.’’
Harmony Chorus returns to Spring Festival
Entertainment and food will be major features of the 2015 Spring Into Corrimal Festival on Sunday.
Returning for the first time in several years is Wollongong Harmony Chorus who will appear on the main stage in Memorial Park.
Jan McCarthy said 22 members would be performing at 2.30pm.
The chorus has been around for 24 years but Mrs McCarthy said it had been a few years since it had performed at Spring Into Corrimal.
But it had done many other community events and had carefully prepared for such a large crowd.
"This Sunday we are doing seven songs including Can't Buy Me Love, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Hallelujah," Ms McCarthy said.
There will be plenty of variety on Sunday with two busking stages along the main street.
Another performer on the main stage is Oliver of Corrimal.
His real name is Oliver Denning and his journey has been a little different.
His style is also very different to the four part harmonies the Wollongong Harmony Chorus ladies often sing in.
The former counsellor recently completed an advance diploma in music at TAFE and had volunteered to play in the shopping centre near Coles as part of the Corrimal Arts Festival in April when Corrimal Chamber of Commerce president Paul Boultwood heard him. He liked what he heard so much he approached him to ask if he play at Spring Into Corrimal.
The arts festival was one of Denning's first gigs as part of a career seachange.
He wanted to share his music with the world but did not expect such an opportunity to land in his lap.
He believes through music he can reach more people.
"The best way I feel I can help the world around me is through my music," he said.
SPRING INTO CORRIMAL PROGRAM
9:00 am - Wollongong City Council Car Boot Sale commences at the Corrimal RSL Car Park.
10:00 am - Street Parade commences (Starting from Ziems Park in Short St, to Collins Street).
10:00 am - i98fm starts to Broadcast live from the event. (until 1pm)
10:30 am - Entertainment starts at the Ballet Shoppe Community Stage in Russell Street finishes at 2:30 pm.
10:45 am - Entertainment starts on the Main Entertainment Stage in Memorial Park, finishes at 4pm.
11:00 am - Entertainment starts at the Manjits Children's Stage in Railway Street finishes at 3pm.
11:00 am - Circus Monoxide performers- from aerialists and street performers- on the Princes Highway
11:45 am - Community of School's Choir sings National Anthem. Ryan Park announces the winners of "Cossies R Us" Street Parade and the Corrimal Citizen of the Year Award.
2:00 pm - Car Boot sale concludes.
4:00 pm - Event concludes.
SPRING INTO CORRIMAL
Main Stage:
10:30 am - Wollongong Conservatorium of Music- jazz band
10.50am - Kartik Kuna
11.20am - Groove Central
11.45am - Community of School’s Choir sings National Anthem
11:50am - Official Opening, with Ryan Park MP, (Member for Keira)
Announcment of winners of the Cossies R Us Street Parade
Announcment of Corrimal Citizen of the Year Award winner
12noon-12.15pm - CT Belly Dance
12.15pm-12.45pm - Swingaleles
12.45pm-1.30pm - Ambitions “the Art of Entertainment”
1.30pm-2.30pm - Oliver of Corrimal
2.30pm-3.00pm - Wollongong Harmony Chorus
3:00pm- 4:00pm - Master Blast Band
