Mardi Gras Festival
Memorial Park, The Entrance
The
Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras Festival will enjoy its 57th
anniversary in 2008. It’s
no wonder the festival has become synonymous with
The Entrance.
The festival attracts in excess of 15,000 people
to the coastal town of The Entrance providing a wonderful
weekend of family entertainment and an opportunity to promote local business.
OBJECTIVES
The Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras has been carefully
planned to attract the entire family and has been embraced by locals
and visitors alike.
Since it’s inception, the festival has shown
significant growth, originally conceived to celebrate the coming
summer season
and a means to raise funds for local charities however, it has
now become a major tourist attraction.
The festival is conducted
by a committee of dedicated local residents, all with a common
aim:
To enhance local economic development through
tourism
To showcase local businesses
To provide a high quality family
oriented entertainment
The weekend is offered completely free to families and all monies
raised through sponsorship go into staging the festival – no
member of the committee is paid.
TIMING & LOCATION
The Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras is conducted on
the first weekend in December of each year and provides a high
profile introduction to the Christmas Holiday season at The Entrance.
The festival is primarily conducted on The Entrance Memorial Park
foreshore and the adjoining Waterfront Plaza areas over a period
of two days.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Street Parade
the parade commences
at Long Jetty at 2.00pm sharp and then proceeds along The
Entrance Road to the Memorial Park at The Entrance. The atmosphere
is
electric and the floats spectacular. Local businesses and organisations
excel themselves with the creative efforts. Usually around
80 floats participate, all vying for the
grand champion trophy.
The Tuggerah Lakes Queen Competition
this
is open to all girls 16 years with great prizes on offer for
the winner. Every girl requires a sponsor. There are three lead
up judging events with a panel of independent judges for each
event.
The Tuggerah Lakes Prince and Princess Quest
some
years ago this competition was added to enhance the festival.
This has
proved very popular and gives confidence to young people.
The
Fireworks Display
a major highlight of the festival
is the fireworks display over the lake on Saturday night.
Half
Marathon and Fun Run
organised by the Hash House
Harriers and held on Sunday morning.
Ducks for Bucks
Surf Life Saving Central Coast major
fundraising event is held on Sunday afternoon, thousands of little
yellow rubber ducks are dropped into Tuggerah Lake with the first
duck over the line being announced the winner.
Apart from these features, there is an extensive range of family
oriented entertainment throughout the weekend attracting very large
crowds.
SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS
Advertising begins in earnest
many months prior to the event. The Cumberland Newspaper Group, which
owns and operates the Central Coast Express Advocate are major
sponsors along with Central Coast
Radio (2GO) and NBN Television.
All major sponsors and their logos
are displayed in the festival program.
Advertising space is
available for sponsors in the Memorial Park during the weekend.
Static display area is available in the Memorial Park for
sponsors free of charge.
Each sponsor has the right to enter
a float and Queen candidate free of charge.
Extensive advertising
is undertaken in the print media, radio and television.
CONCLUSION
The Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras Festival Inc is a non
profit organisation. Traditionally the festival has an overall
budget of $25,000 to
$35,000 with sponsorship making up approximately 75% of the income.
With careful planning, astute financial management and a professional
approach the committee has succeeded in staging an excellent regional
event.
The committee spearheads the Festival. However, everyone who attends
the Memorial Park on the Festival weekend helps to make it a success,
whether it be as an onlooker, a stall holder, an entertainer or
volunteer.
On behalf of the Committee, I sincerely hope,
that your business will consider becoming a major sponsor of the
2008 Tuggerah Lakes
Mardi Gras Festival.
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