It is due to be run in March 2011 but there are only four people left on the committee and one of them has been there for 19 years! Those who have resigned from the committee have been there for 5 or 6 years and helped to put together some of the best Harcourt Applefests over the years.
Many people are great at lending a hand on the day and during setup and pull down, and you can't run a good festival without that help. But if you want to put on something like the Harcourt Applefest then you need to start planning and organizing 5 to 6 months in advance.
The committee need you to turn up at 7:30pm on Monday 8th November at the Harcourt Tavern and take responsibility for organizing the 20th Harcourt Applefest.
These are some of the things that need to be organised months in advance:
- Applefest Parade - Schools need to be invited before they close for Christmas.
- Apple Pie Baking Competition - Premier John Brumby is the Patron. This was a significant factor in keeping the Harcourt Swimming Pool.
- Apple Pie Eating Competition - Heats start at end of January but need to be finalized before Christmas.
- Permits for road use - Applications need to be submitted up to 3 months prior to the event
- Insurances
- Fund Raising & Sponsorship. Can't start too early on this. Some work has already been done on this by a retiring committee member.
- Programmes & Leaflets
- Advertising and PR - including TV, Radio, Press & Social Media
- Harcourt Idol auditions and entries. Have a volunteer for this but not the same without the Applefest.
- Cocktail Party after the Art Show
- Musical Acts for Saturday Night - good acts are booked out 6 months in advance.
- Market Stalls
- Food Stalls
- Liquor License
- Pet parade
- The Famous Ferret Race - need to get in their calendar
- Amusement stalls - booked out months in advance
- Power Supply
- Temporary Fencing & Safety Barriers
If you want experience in, or always wanted to work in:
- Event Management
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Social Media
- TV
- Radio
- Community Consultation
Then this is a great way to get started.