This year’s Rhododendron Festival is on Saturday, November 5. The festival, now in its 64th year, guarantees a great day out and fun for the whole family.
A highlight each year is the grand parade, which starts at 11.30am at Blackheath Oval and winds its way along Wentworth Street to finish at Blackheath Gardens on the highway. There are plenty of vantage points along the way to catch the colour.
The princess traditionally leads the parade, followed by a wild collection of fancy-dressed participants, including local school children, pre-schoolers, scouts, soccer club, gardening groups, swimming pool supporters and a silly array of individuals who just want to dress up for the day. All accompanied by some fine bands.
Don’t miss the crowning of the princess from about 10am in Govetts Leap Road. It will include performances by the primary school choir, Dance for Life and the Lithgow Pipe Band. This year’s princess is Blackheath-born Emma Crowe, who went to Blackheath Public and Katoomba High and now teaches PDHPE at her old high school.
Don’t miss the crowning of the princess from 10am in Govetts Leap Road.
From 9am, Blackheath Gardens will be packed with stalls, everything from pottery and plants to jams and jewellery, as well as a smorgasbord of food stalls in adjoining Gardiner Crescent.
Over near the huge chess set beside Hat Hill Road, there will be a jumping castle for the under-12s, face-painting and the Snake Man, Neville Burns from Blue Mountains Reptile Awareness, with his slithering sidekicks.
And if it’s hot (!), it’s also opening day for the pool.
