Every photo taken at Chinchilla Melon Festival and best dressed winner announced
The votes are in for who won ‘best-dressed at Melon Fest’ 2023 - see the top five looks and check out every photo we snapped at the event.
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The Chinchilla News put out a call for who should win best dressed at the 2023 Melon Fest, and received almost 30 nominations — and now the votes are in.
(NOTE: Looking for photos? Scroll to the bottom)
WINNER: Part men, mostly melon
RUNNERS-UP: The Barber Family
THIRD PLACE: Morgan Fribence
FOURTH PLACE: Little Miss Poppy Mann
FIFTH PLACE: Cooper, Quinn and Eryn Magner
One of regional Queensland’s largest events has returned after four years and is back with a program boasting of fun, fresh and family activities for an entire weekend.
Chinchilla Melon Festival has returned, and despite it letting go of one of its previous events, president of the committee Doug McNally said it will “lift the spirits” of the Western Downs community.
“It certainly gives us back a bit of identity, ” Mr McNally said.
“We’ve had some nasty stuff in the last few months with the activity out at Tara and now the bushfires that are around us, but to give us back a joyful identity is something that the town looks forward to.”
The event kicks off Thursday, February 16 and ends Sunday February 19, and is packed full of activities like competitions, watermelon skiing, live entertainment, parades, golf and so much more.
Check out our full guide and plan your events ahead of time.
Thursday, February 16
Melon Big Bash 20/20 Match, 6pm
Chinchilla and District Cricket Association are hosting at a major cricket match to kick of all the fun of the Melon Fest.
The match will see Qld Bull Masters vs Chinchilla and District Watermelons face off at the Chinchilla Rec Grounds.
Gates open at 5pm, and the game starts at 6pm.
It costs $5 to enter, except for those under 18 years of age, who get in for free.
The event is cash only.
Friday, February 17
Golf Day, 12.30pm
Keen golfers can rally a team for Chinchilla’s Golf Club Event held on the Warrego Highway.
It costs $75 per team, and $100 to hire a buggy.
For all inquiries phone Steve on 0438 205 788 or Nathan on 0427 857 767.
Big Melon Weigh In Kid’s Competition, 5pm
Residents are invited to come watch the kid’s present their melon for the Big Melon Weight In Kid’s Comptition.
The event will be held at Chinchilla State Primary School Oval on Middle Street.
Big Melon Weigh In, 5pm
While supporting the children, guests are invited to come watch farmer’s and avid melon growers participate in the major Big Melon Weigh In.
Also located at Chinchilla State Primary School Oval on Middle Street the competition will also have an open bar at 5pm.
Melon Skiing
Unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, ‘melon skiing under lights and burger by the bar’ will be held after the big melon weigh in and will take place at Chinchilla State Primary School Oval.
Burgers and dessert will be on offer for $25, with those aged under 10 snagging the deal for $10.
For all skiing enquiries phone 0488 737 060, or visit trybooking.com.
Beach party, 5pm – 2am
The Club Hotel is bringing the beach to the bush with their major beach party event.
Party goers can expect plenty of live music, drink specials, food vendors and much more.
Tickets can be purchased by phoning 4669 1100 or visiting the Club Hotel’s website.
Melon Rodeo, 5pm – midnight
Held by the Chinchilla A and P Association, the Melon Rodeo will include a licenced bar with food vans and entertainment.
All inquiries should go to 0437 688 011.
Kids Movie Night, 7pm – 9.45pm
This free event is held by Western Downs Regional Council and is sure to entertain the kids right before bed time.
The event will be held at Chinchilla Botanic Parkland, Event Lawn and will include a sausage sizzle, drinks and popcorn for sale.
*All children must have a parent or guardian’s supervision for the entire duration of the evening.
Saturday, February 18
Poet’s Breakfast, 7am – 9am
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a breakfast while laughing along to three of Australia’s top performing bush poets, Bill Keams, Gary Fogarty and Mick Martin.
The breakfast will be held at Chinchilla Museum on Villers Street.
It’s advised that guests bring a chair.
Charley’s Creek Parkrun, 7am
The run starts at Rotary Park, near the Commercial Hotel.
Market Stalls, 7.30am – 3.30pm
On Heeney Street is where guests can find market stalls running for majority of the day.
More than 150 crafts, fashion and food markets will be available.
Street entertainment, 10am – 3pm
Roving around Chinchilla’s CBD, the Memphis Moovers will dance and move along the streets while they drive through town in their novelty cars.
Melon Procession, 10am
Marshalling of the procession will begin at 9am, before the parade kicks off at 10am starting on Heeney Street.
The theme of this year’s parade is ‘Celebrate our Big Melon’.
Melon Dash for Cash, 11am
Once the parade is over, the Melon Dash for Cash will begin.
Registrations are at 9am at Shell’s QGC registration tent on the school oval, while the race will begin on Heeney Street.
Participants will test their fitness as they carry a whole melon while they run down the street, while keeping their melons in tact.
Melon skiing, 12.30pm – 4pm
Participants will squish their feet into a pair of watermelons and ski all the way down the course, located at the Arena on the school oval.
Melon bungy, 12.30pm – 4pm
This event requires four people, who will be attached to a bungy rope on a slippery mat covered with melon.
The aim of the game is to reach and retrieve your melon.
Melon bungy can be found at the Arena on the school oval.
Miss Melons Pin Up, 1pm
Guests are invited to watch the stunning pin-ups take the stage to celebrate the festival.
Celebrity melon eating, 3pm
What’s better than regular melon eating? Celebrity melon eating.
The competition will be held at 3pm at the Arena, located on the school oval.
Bike Show, 1pm and 5pm
The bike show will be followed by an autograph session, interactive bike displays and rider photos.
Located on Middle Street.
Melon chariot race, 4.30pm
Participants will assemble at 4pm and register their team of three at Shell’s QGC registration tent from 11am.
The chariots are to be made from melon, packing cartons, pallets and ready made axles.
The race is held in the Arena.
Melon Iron Man/Woman, 4.30pm
Runners will assemble at 4pm and register at the Shell’s QGC tent from 11am.
It requires two participants per team, a maximum of 20 male teams and 20 female teams.
The competition located at the Arena will be a content of the fastest finishing pair.
Family concert, 6pm
The free family concert is held on the primary school oval and will feature acts from James Blundell, Rusty Pickups and the Woodshed Band.
A laser light show will display during the concert.
Sunday, February 19
Sunday markets, 7am – 12pm
The Sunday markets are held at the Chinchilla Polocrosse Grounds, Racecourse Road.
Poet’s Breakfast, 7am – 9am
The breakfast is held once again at the Chinchilla Museum on Viller’s Street.
Polocrosse demonstration, 8am – 10am
The demonstration will be held at Chinchilla Polocrosse Club.
Melon Fest combined Church Service, 10.30am
A service supporting the local school chaplaincy will be held at Country Hope Church at 3 Burbank Street, Chinchilla and followed by a sausage sizzle.
Melon Bowl Day, 12pm
The Chinchilla Bowls Club will host the social event at Park Street.
All enquiries go to 0477 019 682 or 0416 120 122.
Every photo gallery from the weekend events below:
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