By TANIA PHILLIPS
LET it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Snowflakes in Stanthorpe is a celebration of all things cold, in the coldest town in Queensland.
The festival was originally the brainchild of four energetic young women in 2013.
They thought Stanthorpe should build on its cold weather reputation and celebrate this climatic phenomenon in a day-long community event to bring visitors and tourists to the town.
The first event happened on 3 July 2013 and included markets along the creek, activities in town and a snow making machine available for kids to have a snowman making competition and throw some snowballs around.
An estimated 300 people quickly turned into 3000 showing that the fascination Australians have with snow in winter was still apparent.
Similarly on 17 July 2015 the population of Stanthorpe swelled as visitors from neighbouring towns on both sides of the border and as far away as Brisbane and the coast descended to see, play, touch, feel, photograph, throw and bask in the snow.
After these marvels, a group of community minded volunteers decided to resurrect the festival and celebrate the ‘coolest’ town in the state.
The festival is jointly run between the Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce and the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society.
Chamber president John Bylicki said organisers were looking forward to doing something special in the town.
“It’s exciting, it’s amazing and we’re going to have an incredible line-up of winter activities for people to do!” he said.
The three-day event sees an ice rink, an industrial snow machine, an eight meter human snow globe and a snowman building competition, to name just a few events!
Perfectly located in the picturesque Southern Downs, Stanthorpe is an easy drive from Toowoomba, Brisbane, coastal areas and northern New South Wales.
The Snowflakes in Stanthorpe committee warmly invites visitors to celebrate all things great about winter in the coolest town in Queensland.
