Entertainment
4 December, 2022
Maize Festival returns
THE Atherton Maize Festival is returning with a bang next year, with a committee of bright new faces making the final touches to the 2023 program.
This is the 60th time the Maize Festival will be celebrated, bringing together the rich agricultural communities across the Atherton Tablelands.
It has been two years since the last festival, with Covid cancelling plans for a 2020 and 2021 festival but the new committee is ready to bring it back to its original roots.
Committee secretary Kirsty Larsen has been involved with the festival since she was a child has watched the small town agricultural celebration diversify and grow.
She hopes next year will be better than ever, with the new committee’s goal to keep everything local and give back to charities within the community.
“We want to make it more about the community this year and include the schools with different competitions,” Ms Larsen said.
“I was a part of the parade when I was younger and so has the entire committee and it is just great watching everyone have an absolute ball.”
Festivities are due to kick off on 9 September 2023, with the committee currently brainstorming the reintroduction of the street parade.
In order to bring back the night of celebration, they are chasing local businesses who would like to get involved with sponsorship.
The queen competition will also be back, with young women aged 16 and up encouraged to participate.
“The reason we decided to go 16 years and over is because most of those women have already been presented to society at their debutantes,” Ms Larsen said.
“Through the competition they will learn how to write resumes and present themselves to local businesses, which can pre-pare them for employment.
The Maize Ball date has been set for 26 August 2023, with final preparations being made. The theme, “Glitz and Glamour”, will bring the Atherton community together for a night of fun and dancing whilst the queen entrants present themselves.
This year, young Brady Fraser has joined the team to bring the festival back to life, with his family being deeply involved with the festival the agricultural community for decades.
He hopes to “get on a tractor again” and get the younger generation involved once again.
The Maize Festival is still in the works, with final programs and dates still yet to be set in stone but until then, they are calling upon the community for help.
The committee is always welcoming new members to join in and help organise this community event.
Local charity organisations are also encouraged to come onboard and raise funds throughout the festival.
They are also calling on any sponsors to help, especially with the street parade.
All enquiries can be made by emailing secretary.maizefestival@gmail.com or contacting the Atherton Maize Festival Facebook page.
