Snow excited

Braving the cold on Mt McKenzie near Tenterfield on Monday night are Brooke, Hayden, Mark and Vanessa Wallis from Warwick with Gaye Yeowart from the Gold Coast. The snow was falling but not settling and storm chaser TERRY WEST was on-hand to capture the white stuff. While there's little chance the real thing will fall this weekend, there will still be plenty of man-made snow and ice action across the border in Stanthorpe.

By TANIA PHILLIPS

STANTHORPE is the coolest place in Queensland – or at least it will be this weekend according to organisers of the Snowflake In Stanthorpe festival.
The festival, originally the brainchild of four energetic young women in 2013, will be a three-day celebration of everything cold according to media spokesperson Nicola Holly.
“Everybody has been supper excited, there is a really great buzz around down,” she said.
“There is a really nice Christmassy feel, all the shops are decorated with snowflakes.”
The festival almost received an early present when it snowed across the border on Monday night but while it may not snow for real in the town this year (though you never know). Nicola said the event would still have plenty to keep people occupied with visitors expected to come from throughout the Southern Downs out to Brisbane and the Coast and across the border.
The three day event sees an ice rink, an industrial snow machine, an eight metre human snow globe and a snowman building competition.
“The ice skating will be the big thing and it will be opening on Friday and operating over the three days,” she said.
“And of course our big snowfield will be another big drawcard.”
She said the festival was inspired by the uniqueness of the area and Stanthorpe’s reputation as Queensland’s coldest place.
On 17 July the town’s population swelled as visitors from neighbouring towns and Brisbane descended to see, play, touch, feel, photograph, throw and bask in the snow!
“It kind of makes sense,” she said of the idea of having the festival.
“We hope to run it again next year and then run it opposite years to the Apple and Grape Festival.”
She said interest had already been running high and the events Facebook with more than 3000 likes.
“We are really really looking forward to it, it is a gorgeous festival.”
The event kicks off on Friday with an old-fashioned European street market in the main street which will be closed off from 11am.
The locals day event will showcase the best of the Granite Belt, including producers and artisans that are ‘snow’ excited to share their products with you. The market will start from 1pm on the main street.
For more snow, check out the Snowflakes feature on pages 9-12.