Bathurst Winter Festival - Covid-19 Style

If life had not thrown us a curve ball, Bathurst would be busy with ice skating, night time street parties, illuminated buildings, a Ferris wheel and carousel for the annual Winter Festival, which was getting bigger and better each year.

Fortunately, there was a bit of lead up time to do things differently this year, although on a much smaller scale.

There are no street parties, markets are on line only and no ice skating.  The illuminations have gone ahead as has the decorating of a lot of shop windows.  There are small musical events in a few cafes, which have also been live streamed.

Of course, we still had to participate in some way, and went out the other night to see the illuminations and shop windows.  It was not a bad evening, weather wise, and fairly quiet.

The Court House is always the main feature.

This year there were a few new buildings illuminated.  The old Masonic Hall, now a function centre was rather spectacular.

This was another new illumination. "Webbs Building" was originally a department store, but now houses a variety of businesses.

These were on a wall near the Art Gallery and Library.

The old Tremains Flour Mill precinct is being converted into a vibrant space, with a coffee shop, function centre and with several other uses in the pipe line.  This was the first time it has been illuminated and there was a series of images from the McKillop Girls High School.  So much talent.

The railway carriage at the new Railway Museum was also colourfully lit.

We then went for a wander through Machattie Park.  This is normally the venue of the street parties, so it all seemed rather quiet.

The uplit trees looked a bit eerie.  We did see a few possums, which was fun.  They wouldn't pose for a photo, though.

Then, back to Kings Parade, where the large trees had their trunks festooned with coloured lights.

As we were  heading back to the car we noticed a fellow playing with fire.  He was rather entertaining to watch.  He wasn't busking, but just doing it for fun.  We enjoyed watching him for a little while.

Next, we wandered the streets checking out the decorated windows.

The Antique shop always does a nice window decoration.

As did a small gallery

Even the cathedral got in on the action.

As did the preschool

In Keppel Street there were some nice wintery clothes.

The bakery had an nice little display.  I'm not sure how long those snow men would last beside the fire.

And another nice wintery display.

We think this was our favourite though at Bake Table Tea.  It was clever with all the little groupings of winter treats.

Some shops do have a bit of an advantage with beautiful facades.

You have to commend our Council for making an effort to have at least some of the features of our Winter Festival.  I'm sure that when they can hold a proper festival again, people will flock to it.

After all that wandering around in the cold air it was time to go home for a nice warm supper.