Image: This year's Orange Blossom Festival will feature special guest appearances by Bluey and Bingo at the 'Bluey Live Interactive Show'.
Hills Shire residents and visitors are invited to soak up the carnival atmosphere at this year's Orange Blossom Festival (OBF) Parade on Saturday 21 September at Rouse Hill Town Centre.
The event will begin at 11am with hundreds of musicians, dancers, acrobats and performers from groups including the Hills District Pipe Band, The Hills SES Unit and Millenium Marching Band marching down Main Street alongside floral characters and colourful floats.
The Parade will end in Market Square, followed by performances from community groups and special guest appearances by Bluey and Bingo at the 'Bluey Live Interactive Experience'.
Attendees will also be able to participate in free activities, such as face painting, potting workshops and the OBF swing and photo wall on the day.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi said the parade would be back bigger and better than ever in 2024.
"The OBF Parade is a wonderful Hills Shire tradition that returned in 2023 with a modern twist, showcasing local dancers, musicians, performers and community groups for a day of family fun," Mayor Gangemi said.
"The 2024 edition will be bigger and better than ever, and Hills residents and visitors are invited to enjoy a wonderful day of family fun at Rouse Hill Town Centre.
"This year's OBF Parade will include the Secret Garden, a sensory space for neurodivergent attendees who might prefer a quieter and more relaxing place to unwind during the event."
Neurodivergent describes a person on the autism spectrum or with other conditions, such as dyslexia and ADHD. The Secret Garden aims to provide neurodivergent attendees with a quiet place to retreat to during the event. Free sensory toys such as orange play dough will be given away on the day.
Attendees are encouraged to catch public transport to Rouse Hill Metro Station, which is conveniently located within the Rouse Hill Town Centre precinct.
The OBF Parade is one of three main events during this year's Orange Blossom Festival, with the OBF Night Markets occurring at Castle Hill Showground on Saturday 7 September and a brand-new food and wine event, OBF Taste of Wisemans, happening at Wisemans Ferry Park on Sunday 29 September.
A range of community-run events will also be held throughout September in association with Orange Blossom Festival.
For more information about these events, visit the official Orange Blossom Festival website: www.orangeblossomfestival.com.au.
Image credit: BLUEY TM and BLUEY character logos TM & © Ludo Studio Pty Ltd 2018.
