THE rain managed to hold off for the 2023 National Cherry Festival Parade earlier this month with plenty of colour, smiles, laughter and fun as the floats made their way down Boorowa Street.
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The 73rd Woolworths National Cherry Festival was held over three huge days.
Visitors travelled from near and far to attend the three days filled with all of the tastes and colours of Young.
Among those to experience the Festival for the first time was Hilltops Council manager of destination and economy, Joe Conneely.
"I had a wonderful time over the weekend, and what a great year to start," Mr Conneely said.
"As a first-timer, I could appreciate the experience of how a 'tourist' would see the festival.
"This was the 73rd anniversary of the National Cherry Festival, and we are already preparing next year's event as a dress rehearsal for the 75th anniversary in 2025."
There was a total of almost 11,000 visitors to the festival this year, making it the biggest ever.
"It was 10,837 this year versus 7814 last year, so overall, it increased about 38 per cent across the full event schedule and is a good indication that visitors are returning to the region," Mr Conneely said.
"Last year's count at the parade was 4514, including those in the parade and around the parade route, plus in venues. This year, the equivalent figure was 5537. So, it is 23pc up on last year."
He said he was very pleased to see a return of international visitors to the Woolworths National Cherry Festival.
"It was great to see the region come alive over the weekend and see plenty of people out and about," he said.
"The town had an excellent air of excitement over the weekend, with many visiting from across the region and having overseas tourists back again.
"For the pie-eating and cherry pip spit competitions, we had entrants from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, and Brazil, among many other International tourists."
The visitors throughout the weekend not only helped the Festival but also boosted the local economy.
"The economic benefits of festivals are easiest to see and most often cited - festivals attract visitors, which stimulates the growth of tourism and other businesses in the region," Mr Conneely said.
In the Cherry Pie Eating competition there was some fierce competition however the winners were:
- Male winner: Benjamin Wilkinson (now the 11- time Cherry Festival pie eating champion);
- Female winner: Maria Giannasca;
- Youth winner: Cooper Martin.
Cherry Pip Spit competition winners on the Sunday were:
- Male winner: Benjamin Wilkinson, 11.2m;
- Female winner: Cherie Vaic, 6.8m;
- Youth winner: Knox Walker, 5.45m.
The winners for their floats in the Street Parade on Saturday were:
- Best overall float: Young High School;
- Best cherry theme: Young Public School;
- Best Fruit Theme: St Mary's Primary and Hennessy Catholic College.
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Rebecca Hewson
A local with a love of local news reporting for the people across the Hilltops and Weddin areas.
A local with a love of local news reporting for the people across the Hilltops and Weddin areas.
