By ALENA HIGGINS
A SHORT, sharp thunderstorm had the potential to unravel the Rodeo and Rose Festival’s mardi gras on Friday night, but the weather gods acquiesced.
Warwick Tourism and Events CEO Tracy Vellacott said the night was a wonderful chance to catch up with friends and families and brave the vomatron rides.
“I think the numbers were comparable to previous years,” she said.
“I think the amusement rides stretched further down Palmerin Street this year, but if you bunched all the people up together it would be comparable. In this climate I think it is good to be able to hold firm (on numbers).
While entrants in the street parade the following day were down by about half a dozen, Ms Vellacott said what it lacked in numbers was made up for in quality.
“There were so many quality entrants that did a great job of embracing the black and white and read (to mark the Warwick Daily News’ 150 anniversary) all over theme.”
Ms Vellacott also expressed her gratitude for the large contribution the Warwick Men’s Shed has made to this year’s festival.
“Apart from painting nearly 50 metres of white picket fencing for our Buchner Cup Celebrity Horse Race, the team also created a cut-out cowboy photo board and a barrel rocking horse and bull for visitors to pose with during our Street Carnival on Friday night.”
