Blackheath's annual Rhodo Festival hits the streets on Saturday with a day of music, magic and perhaps a little madness.
The 67th festival will see rides, stalls and entertainment in Blackheath Gardens (opposite the railway station) and in Gardiner Crescent and Govetts Leap Road, both of which will be closed to traffic for the day.
The Bendigo Bank Marquee (with thanks to the bank for sponsorship) will be set up in Govetts Leap Road with all-day entertainment including music, dancing, drumming and more.
Rhodo's first royal family, the McKenzies, will be crowned in the tent at about 10.30am.
They will then lead the parade from near the school along Wentworth Street to the gardens.
There will be circus skills on display, the festival of flowers at St Aidan's Church, wood chopping at the New Ivanhoe and roof bolting and coal shovelling at the Gardeners Inn.
New this year are guided tours of the Memorial Park (2pm and 4pm). And the pool in the park opens for the season on the day.
And all day there will be a shuttle bus between the railway station and the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, which are at their very best. The lodge at the gardens is open from 10am-4pm (last orders 3.30) for delicious Devonshire teas, plus plants and souvenirs for sale.
On Sunday, visit an open garden at Allendale, 48 Clarence Road. Tours at 10am, noon and 2pm. The Community Farm in Thirroul St will also be open that day. Details: rhodofestival.com.
