SLIP on your dancing shoes – the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival is coming to town.
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To celebrate the second year of the 1950s-inspired festival, Ballarat’s rock’n’roll dance group the Ballarat Rockers put on a toe-tapping show at Stockland Wendouree.
Festival organiser Arthur Matsakos spent the afternoon spreading the word to shoppers.
“We hope people come along just to enjoy the rock’n’roll,” Mr Matsakos said.
“A lot of people really do love rock’n’roll music in Ballarat.”
The four-day festival kicks off this Thursday night with a pre-party at the Mining Exchange.
Lydiard Street will be transformed into a 1950s haven with car shows, trade stalls, fashion parades and musical performances.
Mr Matsakos said the event had quickly attracted international attention.
“These festivals are really big in Europe and America and it has a huge calling in Australia,” he said.
“We have people coming from Germany and the US to the Ballarat event.”
Mr Matsakos said he was glad that rock’n’roll dancing group the Ballarat Rockers were involved in this year’s event.
While some of the festival events cost money, Mr Matsakos said entry along Lydiard Street was free.
The event was launched in Ballarat last year, with the help of Ballarat Regional Tourism and Ballarat City Council.