Thousands filled the Castle Hill Showground on Saturday and Sunday 17 & 18 September to celebrate the best of local community at the iconic Orange Blossom Festival.
14,000 festival goers joined over 100 community groups in a celebration of creativity, diversity and community spirit, with community groups taking part in the OBF Parade, Community Grove, Active Zest, The Orchard, Pippa’s Playland and the Local Blooms stage.
Highlights across the two-day event included a dazzling fireworks display on Saturday evening, delicious street food from some of Sydney’s most popular food trucks including the all singing, all dancing, bearded bakers from Knafeh, roving dinosaurs, performances from Hot Potato Band and the Orange Blossom Festival Zest Quest.
Zest Quest, a continuation of Crestwood Idol, showcased a wide array of local youth talent. Hills resident and past The Voice Australia contestant Brianna Holm, made a special guest appearance as both judge and performer, delighting audiences with her powerful voice and vibrant personality.
Winners of the Zest Quest were Harry Alexander (Senior winner), Stephanie Rose Milostic (Junior winner), Tyler Moodley (People’s Choice winner), Jayd Luna (Overall winner) and Liam McDonald (Mayor’s Commendation winner).
Children’s entertainer, TV personality, musician and actor Jay Laga’aia, hosted the event festivities from the Local Blooms stage on Saturday, leading festival crowds in a countdown to the spectacular fireworks display that concluded the festivities on Saturday night.
The Sydney Hills Awards for Community Contribution were held at the festival and recognised eleven individuals and groups for their valuable work in The Hills community over the past year. The Crestwood Fair committee were also recognised at the Community Contribution Awards ceremony for their commitment to the local community over 25 years in which they ran the Crestwood Fair.
The Sydney Hills Events team would like to thank all of the community groups involved in making the Orange Blossom Festival such a great success in 2016. Event attendees are also thanked for supporting this great local event and have the chance to win a Wet‘n’Wild pass when they complete an Orange Blossom Festival event survey (link on Sydney Hills Events Facebook Page).
Although the Orange Blossom Festival is over for another year, local residents can look forward to more great local events when the Sydney Hills Summer Series returns in November. For Summer Series event updates and announcements as well as pictures from the Orange Blossom Festival visit www.sydneyhillsevents.com.au or following Sydney Hills Events on Facebook.
