Come to OUTER SPACE at the Maffra Mardi Gras!
The Mardi Gras has been running in Maffra for more than 60 years, and is the longest running event in the history of the Maffra and Wellington Shires.
Rotary Club of Maffra took over the running of the event in 2010, and after three years of being unable to run it due to the pandemic, brought back a highly successful Mardi Gras last year,
More than 2000 people attended and a huge parade of floats and vehicles were seen on the resumption.
The word Mardi Gras literally means ‘fat Tuesday’.
It goes back to medieval times, the practice of eating rich food before fasting for Lent, and often extends over three days in many parts of Europe and other parts of the world. It is a carnival with a parade – our Mardi Gras arose from this tradition.
The Maffra Mardi Gras consists of these sections:
Section 1: The fundraising by the entrants and their clubs for six weeks before the event. The club that raises the most amount of money over the six-week period will win Maffra Mardi Gras 2024 .
This year the entrants are Nicole Wilkinson from the Maffra Cricket Club and Kade Renooy from the Maffra Football-Netball Club.
Section 2: The lead up to the procession, namely entertainment, street stalls and fun. It’s an alcohol free, ‘family friendly’ afternoon/evening, between the hours of 4pm and 8pm. It takes place in Johnson Street, Maffra, which is closed off to through traffic via a special permit approved by Victorian Transport.
There will be musical entertainment on the Bedggood Stage by the Strzelecki String Busters and Dayne Nicholls.
For the children, the popular Free Kids’ Corner will be back on the grass area behind Southern Rural Water.
There will also be arcade games and circus workshops, jumping castles and tractor/trailer rides. Also, more than 20 market style stalls (food, craft, clothing, etc) trading in the northern service lane. Some of the local shops remain open for the night.
Section 3: The Grand Parade, includes floats, vehicles, some trucks, emergency services vehicles, old cars, the Maffra Municipal Band and the Sale Pipe Band. This starts at 6pm from the Thompson Street end of Johnson Street.
Section 4: The presentations from the Bedggoods Stage to the Fundraising Entrants and to the award-winning floats, commencing around 7.15-7.30pm. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning floats, over $8000 thanks to Community Bank Maffra and District. Trophies will be awarded for the Best Overall Float (Liz Shepard Memorial Trophy), the Best Community float (Joan Laws Trophy) and to the best Business Float (Arthur Watts Trophy). Wellington Shire Mayor, Ian Bye will be there to help to present the awards and will also draw the major raffles for the Maffra Cricket Club and the Maffra FNC. He will then announce the winner of the Mardi Gras 2024.
Mardi Gras is heaps of fun, with a lot of free activities.
Come along in fancy dress and you may win a spot prize, $20 voucher from Fever, the Book Shoppe, The Beet Café, FOMO Discount and Party shop, Woolworths, or Alexander’s Cycle shop.
The Mardi Gras committee is very grateful to all the sponsors, many local businesses and especially Community Bank Maffra and District and Wellington Shire Council.
Without them, Rotary Club of Maffra could not provide this great entertainment opportunity for not just Maffra, but the Wellington Shire.
JOHNSON Street will be closed off to traffic between 1pm and 9pm this Saturday (March 16).
The Northern Service lane will be used for the market and food stalls, so all vehicles should be removed from there by 1pm.
Market and food stalls will be trading between 4pm and the end of the event (around 8pm).
Kid’s activities will take place, starting at 4pm, at the Rotunda, between IGA and the post office, and behind Southern Rural Water.
Disabled Parking is available in the southern service lane – entry from the Foster St roundabout only and exit from the Thompson St roundabout, not Purdy Lane.
The bus stop in Johnson St will not be operating between 1pm and 9pm. Between these times, the buses will only stop at Lions Park.
Floats should check in at the registration desk by 5.15pm so judges have time to start looking at your floats. Floats on trucks and utes will assemble on McMahon Drive, walking groups in Empire Place and trucks and tractors in the area near the police station.
The Grand Parade will start at 6pm.
The presentation will start at about 7.15-7.30pm. Raffles will be drawn, float prizes and trophies awarded, and the winner of Mardi Gras 2024 will be announced.
At least one member from each float is required to be at the presentation to collect any awards.
