Granny Smith Festival, 1987

In 1987, ‘for the second year in a row’, the Granny Smith Festival was held in conjunction with Carnivale, ‘the state-wide multicultural festival’. Chairman of the committee and Alderman Jim Hull, quoted in the Northern District Times 22 July 1987, said the organising committee decided to broaden Carnivale’s theme by incorporating Granny Smith, ‘a famous figure who represents the pioneering spirit of this community’.

The 1987 event, held 12-20 September, had a procession and grand opening day at Eastwood Shopping Centre on Saturday 12 September. It began at 11 am and included clowns, jugglers, brass bands, vintage cars and also ‘community market place, T.V. personalities, entertainment, refreshments’.

The Family Gala Day at Ryde Park on Sunday 20 September consisted of simultaneous entertainment on two stages, stalls, bush dancing, national dancers from many countries, fire police and ambulance displays, children’s attractions, clowns, jugglers, inflatable playgrounds and sideshows.

Throughout the week of the festival there were fetes, open days, displays, sporting and cultural events and shopping centre entertainment.