The 2022 Central Highlands Easter Sunflower Festival will be held at Emerald despite being impacted by Covid

The big annual event for the Central Highlands kicks off on Sunday with organisers and participants having to “think out of the box” this year due to Covid-related challenges. Details here.

This is Emerald's 46th Central Highlands Easter sunflower festival. Pictured is last year’s sunflower queen, Crystal Brunetto.

The Central Highlands Easter Sunflower Festival begins on Sunday afternoon with a ticketed high tea at the Emerald Town Hall supper room.

The annual event, now in its 46th year, began in 1976 because sunflowers used to be a large part of Emerald’s agriculture but a disease impacted the sunflowers’ natural growth.

Gail Spargo, secretary for the Central Highlands Easter Sunflower Festival committee, said Covid had impacted the event and presented challenges to the way the organisers ran it.

Ms Spargo said changes also had to be made to the way that entrants fundraised for their chosen local charity.

“It’s been interesting trying to make things work as normal as possible, while also following the restrictions,” she said.

“It has also limited the ability to fundraise over the last couple of years.

“So fundraising has been a bit of a challenge.

“So our entrant this year has had to think out of the box a bit.”

The high tea event will be held at 2pm on Sunday.

On Wednesday (April 13) an art exhibition featuring local artists who have entered pieces on the theme sunflowers, will take place at the council chambers.

This will also include speeches given by the queen and princess entrants, and they will hand over their donations to their nominated charities.

On Friday (April 15) night there will be a combined church service at the botanical gardens.

Easter Saturday will see the sunflower parade and family fun day unfold.

The parade starts at Rundle Park at 9.30am and finishes at the racecourse at 10.30am where the queen and princess will be crowned.

The parade will include best decorated push bikes, scooters, floats and cars, the most creative Easter bonnet, and best directed business.

These competitions will be judged by the current queen and princess.

The races will begin at 12.15pm on Saturday.

The family fun day will be at the racecourse and begin at 10.30am.

It will have markets, face painting, food, a petting zoo, and rides.

On Saturday night, the rodeo will be held.

All of the events will require proof of vaccination, except for the street parade.