The Nameless Jarndunmunha Festival wows Tom Price

Published on Wednesday, 15 August 2018 at 12:00:00 AM

For the 47th year, a band of local volunteers put together an outstanding festival that was enjoyed by perhaps the biggest crowd to date, with locals, neighbouring communities and tourists enjoying everything that was on offer.  

The theme of this year’s festival was Rustic, celebrating the rural aspect of the wider community, the stations, the wide open spaces, and paying homage to the agricultural show traditions.

Bands, parades, home cooking and craft, singing, dancing, cars, bikes, wood chopping, dog shows, talent quests, fashion and wearable art were just some of the activities that kept people busy across the weekend. Add to that an array of delicious food vendors, stall holders and the buzz of side show alley, and festival goers had plenty to see, do and eat.

The festival kicked off on Friday night with the Wearable Arts Fashion Parade, accompanied by the wonderful ‘From Dust Creative Arts’ dancers.  The amazing Diamonds of the Pacific dance group wowed the crowds with their beautiful cultural performance and vibrant costumes.   Locals danced the night away with entertainment from Jemma Beech, Danger Baby, The Jarrah Celts and The Entrants.

As is tradition, the town came alive on Saturday morning for the annual street parade – the biggest one yet!   Primary schools, community groups, car and bike enthusiasts and local businesses embraced this year’s Rustic theme and the main street of Tom Price was jam-packed as the parade made its way down Central Road and into Clem Thompson Memorial Oval.

The day continued with dancing and singing displays, the very popular Kazoos, Queen of the Green, and a showcase of local talent in the TP Factor. Not to be forgotten, the four legged residents got to strut their stuff in the Dog Show, with all participants displaying their very best behaviour.

Members of the Progressive Axemen's Association of WA put on wood chopping displays across the festival, including a number of hard fought competitions with local residents and businesses taking up the challenge.

Kids of all ages enjoyed the lights, sounds and thrills of side show alley while the Grease Grills and Gears display kept car and bike enthusiasts occupied.

After the sun had set on Saturday night the sky of Tom Price was lit up with the spectacular fireworks display, always a highlight of the festival.

A great line-up of entertainment returned to the main stage with the Jarrah Celts, Jemma Beech, Renegade, Switch, Pilbara Blend and the New Entrants keeping the large crowd dancing and singing for the rest of the night.

More than just one weekend, the weeks leading up to the festival saw runners and walkers embrace the challenge of the King of the Mountain, and residents frock up in their finest Wildwest Steampunk attire for the annual gala ball.

The Shire of Ashburton, along with Rio Tinto, were proud to sponsor this year’s Nameless Jarndunmunha Festival as part of our long standing Community Services and Infrastructure Partnership.  Our sincere thanks and congratulations to the efforts of the festival committee who work tirelessly throughout the year, and also to the other sponsors and supporters who contribute to the events success.

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