Canowindra Balloon Festival

After the event being cancelled last year, Canowindra was very happy to see the return of the Balloon Festival last weekend.

We had camped up there for a couple of days for the previous two festivals, as shared here, here and here from 2018 and here, and here  from 2019.

This year we just went up and back in the day, seeing as we wanted to go to the Bathurst Show on the Friday.

It was a pleasure driving through the countryside and we were treated to this colourful avenue of trees as we drove into Canowindra.  We were blessed with perfect autumn weather.

Our first stop was at some markets in the hall of Moorbel, a small village just as you come into town.

There was one stall that was all donated bric a brac with the funds going to the maintenance of the hall.  We came away with this little lot, at ridiculously cheap prices.  The green glass drinking glass was a whole 5c.  It has a tiny flea bit to the lip, but is uranium glass and glows nicely.  The tapestry was 10c.  I think it would make the nice centre to a cushion.  The mugs were a whole 50c each and will be nice for having tea from our teapot.  The orange vase was 50c as well.  I looked at the metal rim and thought it would have to be silver. I thought I could see a very faint hall mark.

After giving it a polish I could see the hall mark a bit clearer.  It turns out it was made by Henry Griffith and Sons in London in 1925.

This was our expensive purchase, at $4. It was rather dusty, but like all glass, comes up a treat after a wash.  it is just intriguing.

We arrived in town just as the street parade had finished, but in time to see the stage coach.

There had been a re-enactment of the time that Ben Hall the bushranger and his gang held up the Royal Hotel for three days.

There were some lovely old cars on display.

We found a nice little cafe to partake in morning tea.  Most important.

A folk band were playing in the street.

Of course we had to visit the local patchwork shop.  She always has a lovely collection of vintage machines on display.  I thought this one was a little unusual.  Apparently, it is a dog to use.

She didn't seem to have very much fabric in stock this time, so I hope she isn't winding down.  However, I did come away with this little stash.  Twenty strips from Jen Kingwell's "Fine and Sunny", along with matching fabric for a border and some orange for an accent.  I've no idea what I will make with it, but it is pretty.

There wasn't much happening in town by then, so we hopped in the car and drove over to Eugowra for lunch.  A great idea that Mick came up with.  We did the same thing while at the Balloon Festival in 2019, as shared here.  The season was much better this time, as it was in the grips of the drought last time.

When we were last in Eugowra they were just starting to set up a precinct on the main corner of the little town with a mobile food van and seating.  Well, it is going great guns.  We enjoyed very tasty burgers for lunch in this quirky setting.  All the furniture is made from pallets and there are some fun sculptures as well.

Seeing as we had plenty of time, we visited their little museum.  Something we have never had the opportunity to do previously.  As always, I am drawn to exhibits in relation to needlework.

Isn't this the cutest make do pinafore for a little girl.  It is made out of a sugar bag, but still made pretty with embroidery and binding.  Little details that would have cost little, other than time.  It would have been rather scratchy to wear, you would think.  I'm just amazed that something like this still exists and hasn't long since been thrown out.

The other exhibit I liked was this crazy quilt.  Unfortunately, you couldn't see very much of it, as it was folded up, but it has that lovely 30s soft colouring.  Lots of very odd shapes had been used.

The main attraction to Eugowra these days are the murals all around the town.  Each year a group of artists descend on the town to paint more.  While we were there, the local men were preparing the boards for this year's additions.  There will be three more painted.  They are painting them right now, with a big day tomorrow, featuring markets and other events.  It's a pity we can't go out there again.

In the mean time, we had a drive around to have a look at the ones already on show.  Most are shown in link I shared above.  

This is a new one, located on the side of the school, featuring Enid Blyton's "The Faraway Tree".

We do like this on at the swimming pool.

We then returned to Canowindra in readiness for the main event of the day - the Balloon Glow.

Whereas the last two years have been in the showground, this year everything was in the sports ground, so plenty of room for the crowd to spread out.  And there was a terrific crowd.

Everyone was looking forward to seven o'clock when events got under way.

It was rather exciting as the balloons started to inflate.

Nearly there.

What a spectacle.  There wasn't a breath of wind, so perfect conditions for the glow.

It is all set to music and is quite a sight.  Unfortunately, no international participants were present this year, but there were still fifteen balloons putting on a show for the crowd.  Well worth the drive up to see.

It was all over by half past eight, so still not a late night after our drive home.

With a bit of luck, we may get to camp up there for a few days again next year.