Forbes Shire Council would like to thank residents of Forbes for helping us host the very first Frost and Fire Festival in June. The event launched with a bang, and it brought back the spirit of bonfire night. A crowd of over 2,000 people gathered at Forbes Ski Dam to celebrate winter in the country. The event included many bonfires, great food and amazing performances both on and off the stage.
The Council events team were very proud to be able to bring such an amazing event to the community. We would like to send a special thank you to all of the wonderful members of the community who helped us along the way to bring this great event to Forbes.
Starting the line-up of live music for the night were local girls Georgia Sideris and Lily Gaffaney. Triple J unearthed band Young Monks were next to take centre stage with their amazing performance setting the mood. Internationally renowned Lior wooed
the crowd next with his beautiful voice and playing his much loved timeless classics.
Council would like to make a special mention of the wonderful Lions Club members who helped with parking, the wish candles, manning the fire buckets and assisting with parking on the night. Your help was amazing and we can report a sum of $250 was collected
during the night to go to the Australian Lions Foundation Drought Appeal.
Thank you to the Forbes Men’s Shed for building the amazing effigy. It definitely turned heads and provided warmth to the crowd as the temperature dropped.
Thank you John Den from Aussie Fire Buckets for supplying four of the fire displays, including two magnificent fireballs.
A special thanks to our Urban Services crew who ensured we had plenty of firewood on hand during the night to keep those fires burning.
The Lachlan Dragon Boat Club provided a wonderful spectacle on the water with their boats lit up. Thank you to the crews who braved the cold on the water to give us a great show.
Thank you to our food vendors for the night; Smoking Brothers, Twisted Chip, Franklin Road, Arcadia Saltbush Lamb, Cold Rock Ice Creamery and Vandenberg Hotel.
The food was a sell-out and for next year’s event more will be available.
The entertainment was not only on stage but throughout the crowds with a performance by Aboriginal dance troupe, River Spirit Dance Group. The wonderful fire performers
Emma Van Veen, Sam Mulligan and Rianna Weller wowed the crowd with juggling fire batons and Kristen’s Dance School supplied two powerful dance performances for the crowd.
Our event was kept safe by the wonderful teams from the Rural Fire Service and SES which fortunately their services not needed.
It was a truly magnificent night for our community and one we hope will be even bigger and better next year.