Wollongong is getting ready for a big weekend on 5, 6 and 7 November, with a jam packed ‘weekend bonanza’ of events planned for the city.
The weekend kicks off on Friday night, 5 November with John Farnham performing live at WIN Entertainment Centre for the first of two shows.
On Saturday, 6 November MacCabe Park will come alive with Viva la Gong. Yoga, Tai Chi and Zumba exercises in the park will kick start the festival, followed by a street parade, an eclectic mix of music, performances, art, workshops and circus acts into the night.
Viva festival goers can finish their day at WIN Entertainment Centre listening to one of Australia’s best loved singers, John Farnham, for his second concert on Saturday night.
And if you’re not exhausted after all that, then Sunday morning, 7 November, join the other 10,000 participants riding in the picturesque ‘Sydney to the Gong MS Bike Ride’, from Sydney’s St Peters Park through the National Park and descending into our Northern Beaches’ cycleways to finish at Stuart Park.
Event organisers met today to finalise logistics and transport options for the big weekend.
A special parking map has been developed to help locals and visitors, and is available on all event websites. (http://vivalagongfestival.blogspot.com/ , http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/city/parkingtransport/Pages/ParkingOptionsOuterCity.aspx ) Organisers are also urging event goers to catch the free Gong Shuttle Bus, which will be running on the more frequent weekday timetable on Saturday.
Artistic Director of Viva la Gong, Frank Madrid, said he’s very excited about this year’s program and is looking forward to the biggest Viva festival yet.
“It doesn’t matter what time you arrive in MacCabe Park, audiences are guaranteed a wonderful day. “I want Viva la Gong to become an experience that no one in Wollongong wants to miss,” Frank Madrid said.
WIN Entertainment Centre General Manager, Stuart Barnes, said after an overwhelming response to Johnny Farnham’s first show scheduled for Saturday, 6 November, a second show has been announced for Friday night 5 November.
“Great seats are still available for the Friday night concert. Contact Ticketek now so you don’t miss out on your chance to see John Farnham live in Wollongong,” Mr Barnes said.
MS Sydney to the Gong Bike Ride Events Manager, Karl Kinsella, said the Sydney to the charity ride is in its 29th successful year of helping raise millions of dollars for over 20,000 Australians who are affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
“The Gong Ride is one of a kind and has become an iconic sporting tradition. People can pedal from Sydney to Wollongong on any day of the year, but it’s only the first Sunday in November that they will experience the camaraderie, safety, scenery and sense of achievement that is unique to the Gong Ride.” said Mr Kinsella.
“For those who have less pedal power there is an option of riding 58 kilmometres which leaves from Cooper Street Reserve, Engadine, and finishes in the picturesque foreshore of Wollongong.”
Chairman of Tourism Wollongong, Matt Davidson said the weekend of big name events is a great boost for the city.
“Events are an important tool in attracting people to Wollongong who will potentially return in the future for a short break,” said Mr Davidson.
“To host John Farnham, who has not included a Sydney show in this leg of the tour, puts us in a great position to attract visitors into our city, our hotels and restaurants- driving economic benefits to the region.”
“The MS Sydney to the Gong Bike Ride continues to put ‘the Gong’ on the map and showcases Grand Pacific Drive and our spectacular coastline to 10,000 people on one day, each year,” Matt Davidson added.
“We’re also really excited by this years Viva la Gong program and the efforts being made to make this a hallmark event for the city.”
The jam packed weekend of events will bring thousands of people to Wollongong-
Viva la Gong crowd of approximately 7,000
John Farnham crowd of approximately 8,000
Gong Ride crowd of approximately 10,000
The weekend bonanza is expected to inject an estimated economic benefit to the city of approximately $2.2 million.