It's the 21st birthday of Winter Magic. The grand parade this Saturday is a highlight of the festival with over 500 participants, ranging in age from children to seniors. The parade starts at the intersection of Lurline and Waratah Streets at 11.30am with onlookers advised to get there at 11am. It continues along Waratah into Katoomba St and then along Main St to Parke St. It's a people parade only, no vehicles (except emergency vehicles) and is expected to finish by 12.30pm.
Music starts at the Tantric Turtle Blackboard stage at 9am and the Poets Breakfast starts at the same time in the Family Hotel.
The main stage action kicks off at 9.30am with Hands, Heart and Feet followed by a Welcome to Country.
There's a buskers competition at the roundabout near the Family Hotel with registrations from 11am. That event starts at noon with a great range of prizes.
New this year are demonstrations at the Katoomba Fire Station (from 12.30pm to 3.30pm) and the Katoomba Vet Clinic is running a pet parade at 1pm.
If you want to really look the part at Winter Magic, from noon to 3pm, beauty therapy students from Blue Mountains TAFE's Katoomba Campus will offer Winter Magic themed face painting.
Christian youth group, Red Frogs, will run youth-focused events including a Skate Team event from 12pm - 6pm in the carpark area of Studleigh Place. Skateboards are allowed on the ramps. There will be a sign-in desk for workshops for varying skill levels on the day.
Red Frogs will also offer buses free of charge for anyone aged between 12 and 17. These buses run from Katoomba to Springwood and Katoomba to Blackheath. They will leave at 7pm and 9pm and will stop at all train stations.
TV personality Tommy Franklin (of Australia's Got Talent fame) will appear at 1pm and 5.30pm and a Beat Boxing competition is at 3pm at the Youth Stage. All information is at www.wintermagic.com.au - click on the link 'For Young People'.
There will be music or activities inside and on the Cultural Centre verandah, at the old library courtyard (Civic Place), throughout the Carrington Hotel, at St Hilda's Anglican Church and in the Uniting Church Hall.
There are limited car parking options, so festival goers are encouraged to use public transport with City Rail providing extra trains and carriages.
Fireworks on the Carrington roof start at 6.30pm, with the main act The Crooked Fiddle Band on the main stage at 7pm.
See www.wintermagic.com.au/festival-program-2014 for full details.