The Swiss Italian festa!
I've spoken often of our desire to grow our own fruit and veggies, of our need for space and a slower lifestyle, and of our yearning for a more meaningful existence.
And I've shared our lists of must haves and must not haves in a property. But I have to admit that beside the local schools and hospital, I don't remember being so interested in the town we were moving to. I don't know why I didn't have a town/community list of must haves, but I didn't.
So it was almost by accident that we came to live close to one of the most culturally diverse and interesting towns in regional Victoria. A town that boasts some of the best eateries and shops and galleries in the State. And a town with a calender of events so rich and varied that there is bound to be something there for everyone from Words In winter, to Chill-Out, to music festivals and art festivals and food festivals.
This weekend Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are celebrating the Swiss Italian festa and in the opening parade, our family marched and hoola-hooped with the circus crew.
And we admired the costumes and the bands and yodellers and goats who had come from near and far to celebrate the rich history of our town.
Before we moved here I was worried that we wouldn't feel accepted by a town until we had lived there for generations and generations back, but I needn't have. In our town if you want to hold a banner or a bell you are welcome to march. In fact in our town there are almost always more marchers than onlookers. In our town, the hardest thing to do is to decide which crew you want to march with.
I feel pretty lucky that we accidentally set up camp next to such a cool community.
Oh, I just found this clip on Facebook. Check it out.
I'd better go now and make sure everyone here has a rest before the closing ceremony lantern parade tonight.
Does your town throw a good festa?
Do you love a good march down the main street?
Did you spot me and my girlies in the film?
Ciao x