The pages of the calendar are fast turning for all of us as this years Mangrove Mountain & Districts Country Fair approaches. Not many sleeps (but a few sleepless nights for all the volunteers) as we come down the home straight to Saturday 17th October.
For anyone perhaps new to the Community and the Country Fair: welcome, and this is an event not to be missed! They don’t make community fairs like this anymore which is why this one’s special; over 50 years strong, a traditional country style fair with fun for all ages. Run by the community for the community, with all profits from the Country Fair given back to local community organisations to benefit the Mountain districts community. Look around your new community and you’ll probably be looking at or using something or other that’s been funded in whole or in part by the Fair, and that’s pretty darn cool!
And for all who’ve been before and keenly look forward to October rolling around again for the next one; the committee and all the wonderful volunteers have (again) worked hard all year to continue to make the event even better. From parking to signage to food to music, we’ve got a few very nice things planned for 2026! Truly the only traditional Fair event we’ve had to put on ice this year is the Chook Race, with our stable of racing birds having to hang up the saddles and sit this one out, masked up back in the shed to stay safe from H5N1. Fear not though; all the volunteers will be running around like chooks getting everything ready for when the gates open at 9am.
Speaking of music, what a program! Here’s how the event stages are shaping up:
Main Stage
9.00am Welcome to Fair
9.10am – 9.50am Primary school children’s performances
10.00 am ‘til 10.30am – Central Coast Ukulele Club
10.35am ‘til 11.20am – Jasmine Sparkes (co headline act)
11.30am ‘til 12.30 – Courtney Keil (headline act)
12.40pm ‘til 1.20pm – Coastal Slickers Line Dancing
1.30pm till 2.15pm – Hot Plum (Kariong Mountains High School Band)
Angophora Stage
Mick Gandy – all throughout the day
Waratah Stage
Zoe Wilson
Mike Wheeler
Kariong Mountains High showcase
Plus of course all the Indoor Events in the hall with a wide range of artwork and produce going under the critical eye of the judges and the question on everyone’s lips, “Just who does make the best jar of pickles and marmalade on the Mountain?”.
Farm animals, food and drinks, pony rides, jumping castle and rides, the climbing wall, cool cars, plants, produce, books, chocolate wheel, medieval reenactments, vintage machinery, old mates to bump into and have a yarn with and new mates to be made, and much more. Card payments available across the site, and all money raised coming back to the community through the grant system.
Gates open at 9.00am and close at 3.00pm. Saturday October 17th. Corner of Wisemans Ferry Road and Waratah Road, Mangrove Mountain.
There’ll be parking in various areas close to the event so follow the signs and directions and for everyone’s safety and emergency vehicle access (if needed) please avoid roadside parking.
And it’s never too late to make new friends and to volunteer in any capacity, please contact secretary-mmcf@hotmail.com.
More details: https://www.mangrovemountaincountryfair.org.au/
Simon Perry
for the Country Fair Committee
