Top day a result of grass-roots efforts
SUNDAY'S LiveLighter Harvey Harvest Festival is shaping up to be a fantastic day of free family entertainment showcasing the rich culture and Italian heritage of the town and surrounding areas.
The food and wine precinct will offer samples of the best drops from Harvey vineyards.
Harvey Cheese, Victor's Gourmet Delights, Wokalup's Ian Gould and Pete's Chop Shop will showcase what the region has to offer.
It will be a truly community-driven event, with Harvey's Lions and Leos clubs and other community volunteers helping festival organiser Harvey Mainstreet Committee on the day.
Festival coordinator Lisa Bevans said the one-day event was getting bigger and better every year and people could expect a good time.
"We have a record number of 132 stallholders with many more on the waiting list," she said.
"This year's focus of the LiveLighter Harvey Harvest Festival is on promoting healthy lifestyle options and part of this will be our fruit and vegetable stall run by the Harvey Leos.
"Local farmers donate their produce, which will be handed out as free samples.
"We also have an exciting line-up of entertainers and have involved many local small businesses to show the public the quality of talent and produce from the Harvey district."
Entertainment will feature piano accordionist Nikki Dagostino and her trio, home-grown vocalist Emma Curulli and Brad Higgins, Bunbury classic rock and roll band iPhunk, Bianca Panetta's Academy of Dance, Brunswick's Bianca Carbone, and the popular Australind Senior High School Jazz Band, among many others.
The official opening has been rescheduled to midday to avoid a time clash with the dedication of Harvey's new war memorial.
Mainstreet Committee member Ken Utting, who has been actively involved every year, will deliver the opening address.
"The festival is a unique event which attracts thousands of people to the town each year," said Mr Utting.
"We are pleased to be able to provide top-level entertainment at no cost for the public.
"It is fortunate that the festival has the generous support of sponsors and is driven by a proactive committee assisted by a band of young people from the Harvey Senior High School.
"Many patrons keep coming back every year with their families."
One of the highlights will again be the WA Grape Stomping Championships, where young and old can stomp it out for the honour of the champion's title and a range of prizes.
The area has plenty of shade available on a sunny day and organisers expect about 15,000 people to converge on the town for the iconic event, running from 9am-4pm.
