Thousands of visitors flooded into Junee for a taste of the town’s unique railway history and musical flavour at the Rhythm n Rail Festival over the weekend.
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The three day event’s attractions included a street parade, historic train rides, market stalls and wide array of live musical performances.
Rhythm n Rail deputy chairman and marketing coordinator Allan Tucker said the festival had grown considerably since last year.
“I think we’ve upped the ante this year,” he said.
“I think we’ve done particularly well with the street parade, which has attracted quite a bit of attention.”
Deputy mayor Matt Austin also pointed to the parade as this year’s difference maker.
“It really was terrific,” Cr Austin said.
“We haven’t one for a long time and it really brought people together and included people who might not otherwise be able to get involved in the festival.
“The festival as a whole is good for morale as much as anything else.”
Locals and visitors also flocked to the picturesque Memorial Park, which was home to children’s rides, Lions Club train tours and range of musical performances.
The Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum, which averages about 25 visitors per day, welcomed approximately 400 visitors on both Saturday and Sunday and was forced to turn people away at closing time.
Historic train rides drew a crowd to Railway Square, Peter Neve OAM showed off his private railway to a host of onlookers at Wardle Street and the Licorice and Chocolate Factory was inundated with peckish visitors.
An eye-catching burger challenge turned heads at the factory, with Gundagai’s Luke Harrison taking out the competition after finishing the ‘Impossible Burger’ in nine minutes and 55 seconds.
The Anthenium was alive with music on Saturday, with seven consecutive hour-long performances featuring groups including the Junee Town Band, Junee Community Choir, the Champagne Flutes and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music's Saxophone Ensemble.
The festival will celebrate its 10 year anniversary next year.