NEW YEARS EVE LIFTOUT
new years eve in the shire The turning of the wheel of time has in living memory been celebrated in cultures across the globe. Though many sections of the world’s population celebrate at different times of year, the premise is pretty much always the same: Out with the old and in with the new. For some people the feeling that the slate has become clean (or at least wiped a little), paves the way for promises to be sworn and resolutions to be made, and like an unwritten notebook, the pages are blank. So, let’s get out the textas! As the wheel of time turns so too does the movement of the planet and technically, even though New South Wales clocks see it differently, Byron and most of its shire is the first place in the county to see the new year in. What better reason to party – and we do. This year for the first time, the shire will see the inclusion of
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the Falls Music and Arts Festival. The festival hatched in 1993 in Lorne, Victoria before unfurling its wings ten years later to encompass Marion Bay, Tasmania and, ten years later, again, spread those wings to include the North Byron Parklands in Yelgun at the northern end of the shire. From Falls at the top end right down through Billinudgel, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, Suffolk Park, Bangalow, all the way to the shire’s southern border through all the towns and pubs and halls in-between, there will not be a taste left untouched, a veritable smorgasbord of fun. Council and its community partners are presenting the Safe Summer in the Bay program which sees Falls as one aspect of the Byron celebrations and Byron Bay Soul Street familyfriendly activities hosted by Byron Community Centre, as another.
With many activities directed at entertaining the kids, families will find something to do in the Bay from 2pm till 9pm market stalls, face painters, music galore as well as circus performers, and a whole box and dice of a carnival astmosphere. But wait! You also get… To help out with the traditional travelling blues getting in and out of Byron Bay, Byron Shire Council will trial a park and ride scheme which will also run over New Years Eve. Visitors to Byron Bay will be asked to park out of town and catch one of the many buses into town to help keep the streets clear. All in all New Years Eve in the Shire promises to be fabulous, fun, entertaining, a memorable way to wipe that slate clean before promising to be oh so good – until next time.
The Byron Shire Echo December 17, 2013 49