By Dongyun Kwon
The Connecting Community Festival (CCF) is coming back to Healesville with an upgraded plan reflecting last year’s experience.
The festival was organised by Healesville resident Catherine Nolan last year with the vision of connecting community members.
CCF coordinator Catherine Nolan said this year’s theme for the festival is ‘What’s in your backyard’.
“It’s to encourage people to come and see what community groups are available, what different things are happening (in the town),” she said.
The CCF is a one-day festival but there will be two fringe events, which will get the Healesville community warmed up for the festival.
The first fringe event, the Street Parade (Murga Madre Parade) Hat Making Workshop, will be held between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday 6 March at the Healesville Library.
Murga Madre is a form of street theatre typical of the Carnival celebrations in Uruguay, Argentina, Panama and Spain.
Ms Nolan said the workshop is designed to give people a background of the Murga Madre, one of the main events at the festival.
“Come and learn about the whole history and tradition of the Murga Madre Parade and make a hat to wear,” she said.
“On Friday 7 March, we’re having 12 amazing artists perform their original songs at the Writers and Rhythm Night at the Healesville Uniting Church.”
This year, the CCF is again to take place at the Healesville Pop-Up Space, inside the library and The Memo, commencing at 10am on Saturday 8 March.
Inside the Healesville Library, morning tea and kids activities will be prepared while the Healesville Living and Learning Centre and the Healesville Historical Society’s displays are on exhibit from 10am.
“(It’s) not part of the festival but the library has already organised a guest speaker who’s going to be talking about travelling around in a van,” Ms Nolan said.
Community stalls will be set at the pop-up space and in The Memo.
There will be lots of different activities from dance and music to workshops and displays, including First Nations artworks, along with food and drinks to add the festive vibe.
“At 12.30pm, the Street Parade is going to come through from the Healesville Senior Citizens Hall,” the festival organiser said.
“People who want to be part of the parade can go to the hall at 11 o’clock and learn some dance moves.
“They’re going to walk up from the Healesville Seniors Citizens Hall, all the way to Reece Plumbing Healesville to the crossing, walking along the main street and back to the pop-up space.”
Andrew Peters, Healesville-raised First Nations man, is going to be an MC of the day on the Community Stage, and the Yarra Valley Car Club is going to host a picnic, displaying classic cars at the corner of Green Street and River Street.
The daytime festival will be finished up with a Youth Concert run by Ethan Prentice, a young radio presenter.
After the Youth Concert, the CCF will be back with the Marvellous March Cabaret Ball at The Memo presented by the Rotary Club of Healesville from 7.30pm.
The theme of the ball is Alice In Wonderland.
All the activities are free of charge except for the Writers and Rhythm Night and the Marvellous March Cabaret Ball.
Kids are also welcome to come along to the festival to enjoy face painting and diverse workshops such as zine making and Wayapa Wuurrk.
