MYALL Coast residents should brace for a heavy October long weekend, fraught with road closures and punctuated by several popular events in the region.
Saturday 4 October, the first day of the long weekend, will historically see the largest influx of visitors to the area, as it is right in the middle of the Spring school holidays.
Saturday will also be the most congested, as four major local events will be running simultaneously, three of them in Hawks Nest alone.
The annual Lakes Trail Festival, a gruelling endurance running race from Dark Point to Winda Woppa, will marshall runners for multiple races at the Providence Bay carpark next to Reflections caravan park, taking that large section of beach parking out of the equation.
Tea Gardens Hawks Nest SLSC and Tea Gardens Lions volunteers will be strategically located at Bennetts Beach and around the closed and affected roads in Hawks Nest.
These include Beach Road, Coorilla Street, The Anchorage and The Boulevarde, along with large sections of Jimmy’s Beach.
The event will begin with pre-race briefings on Friday evening, 3 October, running through Saturday, with presentations on Sunday.
The Myall U3A Art Show is being held on Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5 October from 9am-3pm at the group’s new space in the Hawks Nest Community Hall on Tuloa Avenue.
Multiple forms of art, produced by talented members, will be on display.
The Tea Gardens Red Cross’ famous home-made goodies will keep perusers going, while local Ray Keipert will launch his latest book.
Saturday 4 October also sees the return of Riverfest, its fourth occurrence in two years, but this time at Moira Parade Park in Hawks Nest from 10am-3pm (not along Marine Drive in Tea Gardens, where it has been held in the past).
Expect the nearby Moira Parade boat launching area to be choked with boaties attempting to enjoy the Spring weather before the rains hit again.
No road closures are expected near the Hawks Nest shops, but the impact of reduced parking and road closures elsewhere else should be considered.
Visitor overflow will likely fill up the surrounding area, especially near the roundabout on Tuloa/Booner Street, which is the busiest intersection in town.
On Saturday from midday to 5pm, Tea Gardens Country Club will welcome the return of the Charity Pig Races.
These thoroughbreds are supporting the Pindimar/Tea Gardens Rural Fire Brigade, whose members may be in for a hot and busy season.
More local events are locked in for October with the Karuah Oyster and Timber Festival returning on the 18th and the ever-awesome Pindimar Markets to be held one week later on the 25th.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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