LOCALS will meat their match this weekend with the second Great Murray River Salami Festival competition set to crown the best salami maker.
There is $2000 up for grabs in Saturday’s competition.
Salami festival organiser and Euston Club Resort manager Guy Fielding said he hoped to see last year’s salami entries of 39 doubled.
“If there’s anyone out there that’s still got their salami that they want to enter, there’s $2000 in prize money,” Mr Fielding said.
He said the categories from last year’s competition were removed with just one winner overall crowned this year.
Mr Fielding said 12 entries had been submitted so far.
Mr Fielding said the festival organisers were making the final touches, arranging the locations of all the food vendors and market stalls.
The festival will be held on the riverfront of the Murray River in Euston.
“We will have 11 food vendors (including four salami vendors) and four bar vendors,” he said.
“I think we’re well on our way to another successful event.”
Judging for the salami competition commences at Euston Club Resort Function Room from 8am until 11am.
This year, James Mele from The Meat Room will return as the judge, accompanied by My Kitchen Rules contestants Mick and Jodie-Anne Barlow.
From 10am until 4pm, there will be food vendors serving food and drinks, market stalls and children’s activities.
All children’s activities are free and include a jumping castle, face painting, petting zoo and an activities tent run by Robinvale District Health Services.
Live music for all ages and cooking demonstrations from 11am until 4pm.
“It’s a really good community family day,” Mr Fielding said.
Entries for the competition can be dropped off at Euston Club Resort by Friday.
Thirsty FOR ENTERTAINMENT
DUBBO band Thirsty Merc will headline this weekend’s annual Balranald Five Rivers Outback Festival.
From Friday to Sunday, Balranald will be filled with music, and organiser Zoe Hutchinson said everything was “shaping up” to “hopefully be a good weekend”.
“The weather looks like it’s going to be nice,” she said.
“We’ve got tickets selling well online for the Saturday’s (live music) and there will be some market stalls on the Saturday.
“The progressive dinner (held on Friday) is sold out.”
The festival will kick off with the Bal-Archies exhibition and festival official opening at The Gallery, Balranald.
Entries for the Bal-Archies can be viewed at the gallery throughout the weekend from 10am until 5pm.
The progressive dinner will start at the gallery, moving to two other venues, with live music by Revive Duo at the final stop.
On Saturday, from 8am until 1pm, there will be market stalls at the Discovery Centre (Market Street) and the 4WD muster outback adventure from 9am.
A truck and car display will be held at the Friends of the Southern Cross shed (Market Street) all morning.
“We’ve got lots of stalls lined up so it’s looking to be a good morning,” Ms Hutchinson said.
Tickets for The Big Gig on Saturday are still available.
Thirsty Merc, who were nominated for four ARIA awards in 2005, will appear from 8.30pm until 9.45pm.
The festival will conclude on Sunday with the Homebush outback family fun day from 12 noon.
“Another call out for anyone wanting to enter the dog jump on the Sunday at Homebush Hotel, bring along your dog and register on the day,” Ms Hutchinson said.
On the day there will also be a shearing display, live music and a barbecue.
