Entertainment
3 May, 2022
Pioneer Village All Steamed Up For The Festival Weekend
HERBERTON HISTORICAL VILLAGE. Machinery, volunteers and the Village team are working up a head of steam for this year’s much-anticipated Pioneer Weekend on May 7 and 8.
The ever-popular Littmus Steampunk Band will be back on stage at historic Elderslie House, while various machines, including the fully restored 1905 Marshall Steam Traction Engine, are fired throughout the weekend.
Other live music acts will have toes tapping throughout the village - Now Or Never will perform at Ada’s Frock Salon, Kate Hunter at the Pioneer Camp, Dana Martin at Maytown Farmer’s Home and Ben Wilson at the old Grocery Store.
There are lots of interesting and entertaining options for festival-goers over both days. Those dressing for the occasion can strut to impress the judges of the Pioneer Fashions On The Field at the Bakerville Tearooms front lawn at 12.15pm Saturday and Sunday.
For a more down to earth experience, have a go at tin panning or check out the bush cooking, engine start ups, Tinlander Train Rides (10:00am-2:30pm) and expert demonstrations of various vintage skills, including blacksmithing and woodworking.
Big kids and little kids can take part in old-fashioned children’s games, meet the working pack donkeys, take a pony ride or check out the animals at the baby animal farm.
Historic Village Herberton owners Craig and Connie Kimberley said everyone looked forward to the annual Pioneer Weekend, which continued to attract old friends and new over the two days.
“The pioneer ‘Fashions on the Field’ is always a lot of fun, and there is all sorts of interesting specialties like the antique apothecary talks and book binding at Martin’s Chemist, the spinning wheel demonstration at Elderslie House and Wild River Mountain Distillery tasting at the Tin Pannikin pub,” Mr Kimberley said.
Pioneer Weekend entertainment also includes vintage machinery demonstrations, a treasure hunt and loads of other family fun - the kids can even create their own ‘wanted poster’ on the Herberton Times newspaper printing press.
There is also great fare on offer - tuck into some bush cooking at the Pioneer Camp, indulge at the Red Cross tea and coffee and light snacks stall, sink a snag from the Lions Club sausage sizzle or grab a coffee from the Mobile Coffee Gallery Café.
Pioneer Weekend will be held at the Historic Village Herberton, on the Atherton Tablelands, from 9am till 5pm, May 7 and 8.
For more information visit www.historicvillageherberton.com.au
