BLACKHEATH RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL
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NEWS AND EVENTS​

​2 NOVEMBER 2020

Here's a handy list of Rhodowood Film Festival session ticket prices – four days to go!
Friday 6th
- The Great Gatsby – Rhodo Class $30; Adult $20; Concession/Kids $15
Saturday 7th
- Each day session – $5
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Rhodo Class $30; Adult $20; Concession/Kids $15
Sunday 8th
- Each day session – $5
- Strictly Ballroom – $5
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20 OCTOBER 2020

Come and join the fun on Rhodo Festival weekend!
BLACKHEATH CHALK ART FESTIVAL

Where: Blackheath Pool
Date: Saturday 7 November
When: 9.30am to 11.30am

FREE ENTRY It's Pool Opening Day!
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19 OCTOBER 2020
​

Announcing another event for this year's pared-down Rhodo Festival!
BLACKHEATH MEMORIAL PARK HERITAGE TRAIL

Discover the story of our beautiful Soldiers Memorial Park – a tale rich with community passion. This is a walking tour of about one hour, following the secret paths in our park with local volunteer experts.

Date: Saturday 7 November
Time: 2.30pm
Meeting place: King George V Gates in Park Avenue
Cost: Donation – all money goes to the Rhododendron Festival, a fundraiser for our town.

11 OCTOBER 2020
​

IT'S SHOWTIME!

Due to COVID-19 there is no Rhodo Day, Rhodo Parade, Art Show or Rhodo Revue this year.
​
Instead, tickets are now available for RHODOWOOD! – The Blackheath Rhododendron Film Festival 2020. Explore the full programme and ticket information or book now via TryBooking:

Friday, 6 November
6.30pm – The Great Gatsby (2013, M)

Saturday, 7 November
10am – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, G)
1.15pm – Young Einstein (1988, PG)
4pm – Free Solo (2018, M)
​6.45pm – The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, M)
​
Sunday, 8 November
1pm – The Magic Pudding (2000, G)
​3.30pm – Bush Christmas (1983, G)
5.30pm – Strictly Ballroom (1992, PG)
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3 OCTOBER 2020

​2020 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT
​
We are delighted to announce that, while COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of many traditional Rhododendron Festival activities, ’the show must go on’ – and we have planned several COVID-safe events for the first weekend in November.
 
We are planning a Rhodo Film Festival for Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November. We’ll have both day and evening sessions – all in Phillips Hall – featuring a broad selection of films made in or around the Blue Mountains, including full-length features, short films and locally-made featurettes. A programme and ticketing information will be released shortly. 
 
To make this a truly community event, we invite you to submit any of your own locally-produced content for consideration to be screened as a featurette. Please forward any video you may have in digital format to blackheathrhodofestival@gmail.com.
 
In line with NSW Government COVID planning restrictions, audience numbers will be limited and currently capped at 90 people (as at 2 October). 
 
Also, on Saturday 7th November, we'll once again hold the popular Chalk Art Competition at the pool and guided walks of the historic Soldiers’ Memorial Park.
 
Further information will be made available shortly and will be posted here and on our Facebook page.
​
13 SEPTEMBER 2020

BLACKHEATH RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL COMMITTEE AGM


The Blackheath Rhododendron Festival Committee will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 23 September from 7pm at Blackheath RSL.

Anyone who wants to be involved, from the smallest contribution to big ideas, is welcome to join the committee and attend the meeting.

Enquiries to blackheathrhodofestival@gmail.com.

13 MAY 2020

ALTERNATIVE CELEBRATION FOR RHODO FESTIVAL THIS YEAR


The Rhododendron Festival Committee has reluctantly decided to cancel August's Choir Festival, the annual Art Show and the Grand Parade on Rhodo Day, due to ongoing concerns over community safety. However, the Rhodo Festival will go ahead in a different way in 2020.

​We will continue to keep you updated here or on Facebook.

Read the article in the Blue Mountains Gazette

BLACKHEATH BONZA BAKE OFF POSTPONED

Dear Blackheath Bonza Bakers,

With heavy hearts and grumbling tummies we regret to advise we are postponing the inaugural Blackheath Bonza Bake-off scheduled for Sunday 7 June at Blackheath Golf and Community Club.

The Blackheath Rhododendron Festival Committee will continue to be directed by the advice and guidelines relating to public events provided by the appropriate government authorities.

We hope to hold the event later in the year, tentatively in September, giving you more time to hone your skills and perfect your prize-winning potential!

As events unfold in these unsettling times, we’ll continue to provide timely updates to ensure that when we do hold the event, it will be an absolute CRACKER. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to sharing the inaugural Bake-Off with our awesome community – once it is safe to do so.

If you have any questions, please send a private message via Facebook, or email us at blackheathrhodofestival@gmail.com.

Stay safe and well, and we’ll get through this with continued vigilance.

​Blackheath Rhododendron Festival Committee
​

THE INAUGURAL BLACKHEATH BONZA BAKE OFF!
​
The inaugural Blackheath Bonza Bake-off is a new fundraiser produced by the Blackheath Rhododendron Festival Committee to help fund the Festival. For the first time, folk showcase their baking skills on a day that we’re sure will make a fantastic regular addition to our fundraising calendar.

Sunday 7 June at Blackheath Golf Club


TEMPTING MORSELS | PRIZES | ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE

Are you a kitchen wiz? Do you dazzle your friends and family with tasty treats? This is the event for you!

Visit Blackheath Bonza Bake-off page for details and registration form.
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​
​BLACKHEATH CHOIR FESTIVAL 2020

21 – 23 August

The Blackheath Choir Festival has a brand new website – register your choir now. Keep an eye out for details coming soon.

See you in August!
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RHODO BINGO AU-GO-GO IS BACK!

Join hosts Charisma Belle and Naomi Palmer for RHODO BINGO AU-GO-GO – IRISH EYES ARE SMILING. Shake your shamrocks and celebrate St. Patricks Day with Rhodo Bingo Au-Go-Go! ☘️

7pm Saturday 14 March 2020 at Blackheath Golf and Community Club.
Book your Early Bird tickets - $20 www.trybooking.com/BHGTM

Dazzling performances and heaps of prizes – best dressed, lucky door and big raffle. You'll love it – no blarney!☘️😀
This is a Blackheath Rhodo Festival fundraising event.
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FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

Michael Scott – flute
Sumiko Yamamura – piano

Saturday 30 November at 7:30pm

Blackheath Uniting Church, Govetts Leap Road
Admission $30, concession $25 (with refreshments)

https://www.trybooking.com/BGWSZ

A program of music for Flute and Piano including works by Mozart, Faure, Massenet, Piazolla (a Tango), a little Jazz…

Born in London and now a resident of Blackheath, Michael is a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire of Music. He has had a distinguished international career as an orchestral flute player soloist and Professor of Flute at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Roger Covell, Sydney Morning Herald: “...distinguished and elegant flute playing of Michael Scott”
Christopher Lauba, Oklahoma USA: “...a world class virtuoso performer”

Sumiko is a freelance accompanist born in Yokohama, Japan. She completed a Bachelor of Music in performance with Elizabeth Powell, and Graduate Diploma in piano accompaniment with David Miller at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

​She is an active ensemble pianist, has performed and recorded for ABC FM and Fine Music FM with many of Sydney's leading musicians.
​

GARDEN AT 'ALLENDALE' and BLACKHEATH COMMUNITY FARM – 
​OPEN SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Of course the events don't stop after Rhodo Day! On Sunday 3 November there are TWO places you must see.


​1. OPEN GARDEN AT 'ALLENDALE'

The owners of 48 Clarence Road, Blackheath are delighted to open their spectacular garden for the Festival. Enjoy over 300 Rhododendrons and Azaleas and dedicated walks among them. 'Allendale' is over 8 acres, much of it Rhododendron walks plus an orchard and vegie garden, and bushland going down to Popes Glen.

Please note: There will be ONLY guided tours on the day. Tours are at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm and please remain with your guide at all times 

Look for the large sign RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL OPEN GARDEN. 

Entry is $5 donation and proceeds go to the Rhodo Festival Committee.


​2. BLACKHEATH COMMUNITY FARM

Blackheath Community Farm will be open from 10am - 3pm on Sunday 3 November – and is open every other Sunday from 10am to 1pm (and usually longer). 

The Farm is run by a team of volunteers whose main goal is to grow community first, locally acclimatised heritage seed second, and fresh local produce third. Everyone is welcome! After a few hours of work, farmers enjoy a very social communal lunch at 1pm.

​The Farm is located on land made available to the community by Mountains Christian College at 60 Thirroul Ave Blackheath (bottom gate).


​POETS BREAKFAST – 
​NEW IVANHOE HOTEL, RHODO DAY 2 NOVEMBER

From the depths of twisted, tortured and tormented souls, for your exclusive entertainment
 
POETRY and MUSIC by Steve Alton, Katy Cavanagh, Brian Bell, Frank Portelli, Natalie Mueller, Bill Rummery, Lowell Tarling, Don Morrison, Wendy Varney, Alan Murray, Wendy Mueller, Thea Dewhurst.
  
Admission Free

ORDER OF APPEARANCE
8.30am - Registration
8.55am - Welcome and Opening 
 
SET 1 – 9.00 - 9.35am
Paddy Cavanagh
Steve Alton
Natalie Muller
Alan Murray

SET 2 – 9.35 - 10.10am
Carmeline Long
Frank Portelli
Katy Cavanagh
Thea Dewhurst

SET 3 – 10.10 - 10.45am
Bill Rummery
Linda Mueller
Don Morrison
Lowell Tarling

SET 4 – 10.45 - 11.20am
Hugh Crago   
Wendy Varney
Brian Bell
Alan Murray

Close and Acknowledgments – 11.20am
​    
CHALK ART FESTIVAL – 
BLACKHEATH POOL ON RHODO DAY
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PETER BUCKWELL –

A LIFE IN ARCHITECTURE 


Join our community for a special Rhodo Festival event as we celebrate 40 years of local architect Peter Buckwell living in and designing for the Blue Mountains.
 
This intimate occasion signifies a momentous investment in the upper mountains and celebrates an outstanding body of continuing architectural work. 
 
3–5pm Sunday 3 November 
Tickets $15.87 (please note – only 25 places available)
Book online through EventBrite 
 
Includes access to open buildings by Peter with a talk at his private architecturally designed home in Mt Victoria, drinks and nibbles.
 
For privacy reasons, open home and talk address details will be made available to ticket purchasers closer to the date.
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