Granny Smith Festival, 1991

For the first time since Ryde Council became directly involved with the festival, it was held in October rather than September.

On 15 October 1991 a sign was unveiled at Eastwood Station, ‘The home of the Granny Smith Apple’.

The grand opening and street procession took place on Saturday 19 October along Rowe Street with two entertainment areas established: Trelawney Street and the pergola end of the Eastwood Plaza. In Trelawney Street, Ronald McDonald made an appearance and there were performances by the Corrective Services Band and Jacki Sorensen’s Aerobic Dancing. In the Plaza, entertainment included the Australian Colonial & Folk Dancers, Australian Academy of Tai Chi, Ambassadors Multicultural Mission Chinese Kung Fu as well as the Local Chinese Christian Churches Choir. The day concluded with fireworks.

The Family Gala Day, which was the conclusion of the festival, took place on Saturday 26 October in the grounds of the Ryde Civic Centre included free ice cream, a teddy bears; picnic, special children areas, bushband, rides, clowns and the ever-popular face painting. And, of course, it wouldn't be a Granny Smith event without lots of Granny Smith apples and apple pie eating.

The week of the festival was filled with many events including fetes, sausage sizzles and several innovative school activities including the Great Granny Smith Barrow Push Carnival conducted at Ryde Public School and the Granny Smith Apples Fantastic Maths activities by West Ryde Public School using, you guessed it, Granny Smith apples and Apple computers!