Family see snow for first time swapping Snowy Mountains for Snowflakes in Stanthorpe festival

One family’s hopes of seeing snow for the first time was nearly quashed due to lockdown restrictions but their disappointment soon turned to excitement and the Granite Belt’s winter wonderland festival delivered the icy magic spectacular they’d be waiting for.

Brisbane family Rubie (10), Rhianna (11) and Phoenix Morrissey (6) experience snow for the first time on day 2 of the 2021 Snowflakes in Stanthorpe festival. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

One family’s snow dreams have come true at Snowflakes in Stanthorpe after their holiday to the mountains was cancelled due to lockdown restrictions.

The Morrissey family from Brisbane were devastated to learn their trip to the Snowy Mountains was a no-go due to the New South Wales lockdown.

The family said their last-minute decision to head to the Granite Belt for the Snowflakes festival was well worth it.

Mother Shanna Morrissey said getting to see her kids faces “light up” at seeing snow for the first time was amazing.

“It was a bucket list item for us, we had bought all this snow gear and then when we realised we couldn’t go (to the snow) we still wanted to at least experience it during the school holidays, so we decided to come to Stanthorpe instead,” she said.

Rhianna Morrissey, 11, said seeing snow for the first time at the 2021 Snowflakes in Stanthorpe festival was a dream come true. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Her 11-year-old daughter Rhianna Morrissey loved playing on the snowfields and said her favourite part was “throwing snowballs at my siblings”.

“My first reaction to seeing snow was, ‘wow, it’s so much different than what I imagined it would be,’ but way better than what I thought,” she said.

Ten-year-old Rubie Morrissey sliding down the hill on a toboggan on day 2 of the 2021 Snowflakes in Stanthorpe festival. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Ten-year-old Ruby Morrissey said she was amazed at how real the fake snow was.

“It’s amazing, I love it so much and it's so much fun to play in,” she said.

Six-year-old Phoenix Morrissey slides down the snow hill on the toboggan at the Snowflakes in Stanthorpe snowfields on day 2 of the 2021 festival. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Younger brother Phoenix Morrissey was in awe of the toboggan and played non-stop on the snowfield hills.

The family said they planned to head back to Stanthorpe every two years for the biennial event.