Get set for a big festival

‘Rio Carnival’ is coming to Stanthorpe!  So make sure you are a part of this vibrant and exciting 2012 Apple and Grape Festival Rio Carnival Gala Ball on Friday, March 2.
Jean Hallas, 2012 ball director, encourages everyone to come along and dance to the rhythm of the drums, tantalise their taste buds with flavours of the famous South American cuisine and step inside the ‘Sambadrome’ to dance the night away.
Harvey World Travel who has supported the Young Ambassadors with a travel prize for the past 22 years will present the winning Festival Ambassador and Fundraising Ambassador with their trip at the ball.
“Tickets are now available online. For $75 per person, you will enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival, Rio theme buffet, great entertainment and a multi-draw raffle. So be quick and order your tickets now,” Ms Hallas said.
Also on this year’s festival calendar, the Mt Marlay 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run will be contested around the streets of Stanthorpe and along Quart Pot Creek.
For those taking up the challenge you can take a run up Mt Marlay which is 919 metres above sea level with an eight per cent gradient.
The 2012 events director, Gerard Torrisi said: “This year all participants will be fitted with a timing chip and we hope the challenge will become a running event not to be missed every two years. A small change to the format this festival is that we ask all runners to register prior to February 26 as there will be no registrations on the day”.
You can now purchase your Rio Carnival Ball tickets and/or register for the run online. Just visit www.appleandgrape.org  or contact the Festival Shop on
(07) 4681 4111.
Meanwhile, the Young Ambassadors have been very busy fundraising at various special events in the area and with their numerous raffles and street stalls.
Last August, quilters far and wide were asked to send in an entry block to be a part of the upcoming Quilt Exhibition to be held during the 2012 festival.
The entry blocks were then put together by the wonderful ladies at the Dalveen Quilters Group and professional quilting donated by Rose Quilting.
The Friendship Quilt will be one of two raffles organised by 2012 sponsorship director Deborah Wheeler to help all the Young Ambassadors raise funds.
“We have been overwhelmed by the interest shown in this new event with so many entry blocks,” Ms Wheeler said.
The Dalveen Quilters have also put together wall hangings, cushions and have decided to make another quilt for the 2014 festival. Now that’s planning ahead!
The Friendship Quilt will be drawn at 12pm on Sunday, March 4, at the Uniting Church Hall in Stanthorpe, where all the entries will be on display from 10am, Friday, March 2.
The other raffle, donated and arranged by Rebel FM in conjunction with Tangalooma Island Resort is a Family Dolphin Getaway Package for two adults and two children, including two nights accommodation, return launch transfers, full buffet breakfast daily, dolphin feeding experience, ATV Quad bike tour, Desert Safari Tour with sand tobogganing, Marine Discovery Cruise (year-round) or Whale Watch Cruise (June to October). The total prize value is $1570.
Raffle tickets will be $2 each and can be purchased from any of the Young Ambassadors or the festival volunteers.
The Southern Free Times is a proud sponsor of the Apple and Grape Festival.