Pictures: CONTRIBUTED
by Tahlia Facer
All ages are invited to celebrate at the annual 1770 Festival this week from 19 to 21 May when Agnes Water and the town of 1770 showcases another magnificent program of entertainment and activities for all ages.
Thanks to a variety of local sponsors and community of volunteers, this year is also a free entry family event and will commemorate 31 years celebrating “unity” in the community.
Event organiser Amber Rodgers said community members worked hard every year to keep the commemorative nature of the festival alive.
“The festival was first organised in 1992 by a local resident at the time and also one of the Gooreng Gooreng Elders,” Ms Rodgers said.
“So Particia and Uncle Merv organised the first festival and the community event has continued ever since.”
The 1770 Festival focuses on the history of the area as well as highlighting the Gooreng Gooreng and Indigenous history.
“It focuses on the landing of the Endeavour that happened around this date,” Ms Rodgers said.
“The Endeavour anchored here overnight from 23 to 24 May so the festival always happens at that time.
“We have a re-enactment, so a play that happens with some local actors, and the MC for the re-enactment this year is one of the Agnes Water museum representatives.
“The museum has quite a lot of history and artefacts of the Gooreng Gooreng people as well, so information is shared amongst those snippets of performances and a Q&A is held, so people can learn a lot more about the area.”
The festival welcomes thousands of people throughout the weekend and Ms Rodgers expects this weekend will be no different.
“There’s always a crowd of a few thousand which is made up of a mixture of visitors and residents,” she said.
“It’s the one time of year that we have a big fireworks display and… rides, [plus] workshops and performances.”
The weekend is also set to have wall-to-wall entertainment for those attending, with this year’s jam-packed program featuring 14 bands rocking the stage over the three days.
The annual landing re-enactment at Air Sea Rescue Park is scheduled for Friday with super Saturday kicking off with the colourful street parade departing the 1770 Marina at 9am and finishing up at the 1770 Festival precinct at the SES grounds.
Saturday’s entertainment program also includes Welcome to Country, performances by the Gooreng Gooreng, Goora Gan Steiner School, Discovery Coast Dance School, Meraki Circus Students and Q&A sessions about permaculture, turtles and coral.
A highlight of Saturday night will be the Lantern Parade and Fireworks Display from 6pm and sensational Sunday will kick off with a 7am surf competition at Main Beach.
The Festival program will then commence at the SES Grounds from 9.15am with Discovery Coast Dance Group followed by live music from JC and the Tree, Karen Thomsen, local free-spirited folk duo Rustic Roots, dynamic Gladstone trio Sand and local feel-good 4-piece Groove Theatre.
There will also be raffle prize draws and the annual Lions Club Duck Race.
Among all of the exciting entertainment happening on and off stage will be five creative workshops in the Soul Garden and Kids Zone.
There will also be over 15 foodie and 20 market stalls catering for most tastes with a variety of food, drinks and retail therapy to choose from.
As there will be limited parking in the area a $2pp per ride shuttle bus service will run throughout the weekend.
“As an organising team we’re just really proud of all the people who join us in this effort,” Ms Rodgers said.
“It’s a wonderful thing to bring everyone together.
“There’s a lot to be shared with both visitors and residents and we definitely want to continue to do that year after year for local benefit.”
Check out all the latest information about the 1770 Festival including the full program plus everything you need to know about the local area from accommodation to services by going to visitagnes1770.com.au
The 1770 Festival in 2023 is proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland and Gladstone Regional Council’s Community Celebration Fund.