Music and singing blended with the excited laughter of children amid a wonderland of colour as Gin Gin families came together on Saturday night to Light Up the Village.
And just for a couple of hours the worries of the world seemed far away.
Hundreds turned out for the event designed by the team at Creative Regions which produces community-based cultural experiences across the Bundaberg Region.
Creative Regions artistic director Di Wills said the event at Gin Gin Historical Village exceeded all expectations.
“People wanted and needed this,” she said. “How wonderful is it to see this setting, to see families, mums and dads and grandparents enjoying an event that simply reinforces what community means?”
As evening fell across the historical village the fruits of the various workshops conducted to support the night became evident.
Trees with effects lighting and a coloured fairy lights trail blossomed into full brilliance.
The trail provided a path to an imaginary world and, simple though the concept was, the scores of children present revelled in traversing the circle wonderland.
In another area, students who had undertaken training with circus stunts entertainer Tyrone O’Reilly demonstrated their skill with coloured hoops and twirling firesticks.
It was entertainment, it was live, and the crowd lapped it up.
Other areas of the village grounds hosted artistic animation that was projected on to the sides of building, barns and even a covered wagon. The work was again developed through workshops.
Bundaberg quartet the Delta Divas provided singalong opportunities as they performed songs by a host of the female singers who delivered many popular anthems of the 60s and 70s. The Delta Divas were supported by Arts Queensland.
Di Wills said Light Up the Village had a COVID-19 safe plan which worked well.
“This was a totally free event supported by the State and Federal Governments and with the local Community Bank also assisting,” she said.
“The local Scouts had run a sausage sizzle and given the size of the crowd they had to seek back-up supplies.”
In the background as the Delta Divas burst into a rousing version of “Oh Happy Day” there appeared to be a collective nodding of heads from the audience as if acknowledging that the lyrics were right on the money.
- Earlier report: Gin Gin invited to Light Up the Village
