Thousands enjoy FeNaClNG fun

From floats to fireworks, the Karratha and wider community made the most of three busy days of fun at the 46th FeNaClNG Festival.

Thousands of people — young and old — flocked to Bulgarra Oval from last Friday to Sunday to enjoy rides, market stalls, great food, live entertainment and the carnival atmosphere of the biggest community event on the Karratha calendar, organised each year by community service group Karratha and Dampier Lions Club.

Committee member and media and publicity co-ordinator Kirsten Boardman said the event had been one of the biggest in years, which she put down to the growing number of families in the region.

She said it was great to see the festival growing each year and hear plenty of positive feedback.

“(Lions Club committee members) have been walking through the crowds and everyone’s been stopping us, saying how wonderful the festival is and probably the best one that they’ve actually been to in a regional area,” she said.

“The feedback is on the variety of stalls, how well it’s been set up and just the committee itself in relaying messages and feedback ... everything’s been positive.

“Crowd numbers this year are bigger than last year, so it seems to be growing and growing, which is a great sign for Karratha.”

FeNaClNG kicked off on Friday night with a street parade through the CBD, with the theme of “city of many nations”, which featured 26 entries and started from and finished at the new Red Earth Arts Precinct.

Straight afterwards, a crowd gathered to hear the festival declared open by president Wayne Donohoe and speeches from City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long and Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

The results of the street parade were also announced, with Karratha Primary winning overall best float, Baynton West Primary claiming the best school award over runners-up Karratha Senior High School, the Indonesian community winning the best community group gong and best volunteer group going to St John Ambulance.

Saturday and Sunday were packed with festival fare including adrenaline-pumping rides, showbags, organisation exhibits and stalls selling everything from condiments to caravans as well as a huge range of food vans.

Daytime entertainment throughout the carnival was provided by local dance and sport groups including Dance Kix, Peg’s Creek Primary’s Burrup Bouncers, Ghoomar Dance, Lea Cullen Performing Arts and Karratha Gymnastics Club, along with novelty events such as the Apex Iron Man Challenge and a Country Women’s Association-run chilli-eating competition.

Perth country-rock band Renegade rocked the main stage on Saturday night, while on Sunday, headline act the Black Sorrows drew a huge crowd, performing classics including Chained to the Wheel and Brown Eyed Girl.

At 8.30pm, an explosive fireworks display lit up the sky over the oval to mark the end of the festival weekend.

All funds raised from FeNaClNG will go back into the community through Lions Club local projects.

Ms Boardman thanked the festival sponsors and community for supporting the event.