Goodbye Winter... HELLO SPRING!

For generations, communities the world over have come together to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Cessnock is no exception, with the annual Spring Awakening festival back for another year! Spring Awakening is back in 2019 bigger, bolder – and brighter – than ever before. Immerse yourself in an illuminated wonderland and experience a night of fire and light with family and friends.

The celebration of the arrival of spring will be held on Friday 6 September from 6pm to 9pm at the Cessnock TAFE Grounds.

Festival-goers will be able to warm themselves among flaming sculptures and be intrigued by interactive installations. There’ll be live entertainment on the main stage, along with roving performers, creative activities for kids, and surprises for the whole family! Pack a picnic or select a delicious treat from one of the hand-picked gourmet food trucks and soak up the atmosphere.

For a number of years now an integral part of the festivities has been the ever-growing lantern parade. The parade acts as the official commencement of the evening’s festivities, departing from Cessnock Performing Arts Centre at 5:30pm and continuing in a dazzling procession via Vincent Street all the way to the TAFE grounds.

Put your creative hat on and get into the spirit by decorating your own lantern (or get the kids together for an afternoon of crafting) - the team at CPAC have some great paper lantern kits just waiting to be turned into wondrous creations for sale. The kits include a lantern and an LED candle to illuminate them come parade time, all for just $5. All they’ll need is a splash of colourful paint, a dash of sparkly glitter, or a sash of brightly coloured crepe paper to bring them to life.

In the lead up to the festival, Cessnock Library and Kurri Kurri Library will also be hosting free lantern-making workshops with all materials supplied.

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Please be advised that Spring Awakening is strictly an alcohol-free event. Spring Awakening is an initiative of Cessnock City Council, designed and developed by Cessnock Performing Arts Centre. Get into the spirit of the festival and use the hashtag #SA19Cessnock to share your photos of the event on Instagram and Facebook! For more information visit www.cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au