Hilltops To Celebrate 70th National Cherry Festival

The 70th annual National Cherry Festival is on this weekend, with a jam-packed program providing something for everyone.

The Festival is being held in Young from Friday the 6th of December through to Sunday the 8th of December, with a number of highlights each day.

Kicking off the Festival on Friday night will be a lively line up of entertainment including the Young High School Music Ensembles, acoustic performers Kahuna Duo and Hilltops own Harry Cleverdon, who has recently released his feature song ‘Hit Me While I’m Down’. Following the entertainment will be the National Cherry Festival Fireworks Display at Anderson Park.

A big drawcard to the Festival is the chance for visitors to pick their own cherries by going on an Orchard Tour in the Cherry Capital. Cherry Orchard Tours will be running from the 10am – 11.45am and 11.15am – 1pm on Saturday and 9am – 11.45am and 11am-12.45pm on Sunday. Bookings are made through the Young Visitor’s Information Centre.

The ever popular Wilders Bakery Cherry Pie Eating Championships will take place at Anderson Park between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday. Entries on the day with limited numbers and featuring a celebrity round. Prizes for each section with $100 for Junior and $250 for Senior.

The National Cherry Festival Street Parade is always a highlight and will take place on Boorowa Street between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday. Businesses and organisations are encouraged to enter a float to showcase what Hilltops has to offer. There are two categories, Best Representation of the Cherry Theme and Best Overall.

Saturday night will see the five Cherry Queen and King entrants attend the National Cherry Festival Coronation Ceremony for the crowning of the Cherry Festival King or Queen and the Cherry Charity Title. The five entrants are David Munnerly, whose charity is the Hilltops Suicide Prevention Network Inc, Briannah Griffin, whose charity is the Lions Club of Young, Kate Cruickshank, whose charity is the Young Men’s Shed, Laura Ower, whose charity is Can Assist Boorowa and Young and Tasman Coulter, whose charity is Margaret House Refuge Incorporated.

Highlights on Sunday include the Donges Supa IGA Big Breakfast and the Valley Fresh Pip Spit Competition. The Pip Spit Competition has $50 prize money for the Junior and $100 for the Ladies and Men’s competition.

• Topics:

• National Cherry Festival