The
Time has come, the Committee said,
To wind up all the things,
The Mad Hatters Ball and Tea party
Brought laughs with Queens and Kings
And Looking-glass Art brought magic
And pizzas thrown like rings
In games with fun and music
A Slithy Tove that swings
And Wonderland with lit up boats
And characters with wings
Of big and small faces shining with delight-
The best of many, many things -
[ Jane Johnson]
* Click here for a note from one of the organisers *
So,
how did it go? Well....
Wednesday
night saw the opening of the Art Exhibition for Focus
on Franklin 2010. It was a stunning success. Selected artists
exhibited their work and several pieces sold immediately.
Click
here for slideshow
The
Focus on Franklin Mad Hatters Ball was staged
in the Palais on Friday night. There was a huge turn out and
almost all of the guests were in fancy dress as characters from
Alice in Wonderland, this years Focus theme. This years ball
was the best so far and once again shone a light on the incredible
creativity and community spirit that exists in Franklin. The
Palais Theatre was lit with black light and decorated throughout
with an amazing array of flouro coloured objects from Alice
in Wonderland. It looked spectacular.
The
costumes this year were even more outrageous and well thought
out than last year. The people of Franklin sure know how to get
into the spirit of things and the night was an outstanding success.
Mike Peters sang and played piano until supper was served and
prizes were awarded. Then it was time for the swing band to take
over. Glowing under the eerie effect of the black lights, the
guests in all their multicoloured costumes stepped out and danced
the night away. The lovely old Palais was once again alive with
laughter, music and smiling faces.
This year’s ball is going to be a hard act to follow
Click
here for slideshow
Saturday
night on the Village Green at Franklin saw the spectacular
Alice in Wonderland Light and Boat Show. The hundreds of people
who turned out saw brightly lit Dragon boats rowing to the beat
of their drums while small sail boats with fairy lights sailed
up and down along the foreshore. There were stilt walkers and
fire stick performances - always a crowd favourite. It was a wonderful
sight. On the Village Green was 'Wonderland',
lit with black lights and glowing in the night. Children and adults
alike were enthralled as the Focus on Franklin continued in its
Alice in Wonderland theme. Things then kicked on at the Franklin
Tavern where musicians from all over the valley got together for
a session which went on late into the night.
On Sunday the Village Green came
to life again. There were stalls and games and entertainment all
day. Some of the events included a CD launch by Tricia Lane in
the Church Studio, complete with re-enactments of convicts and
jailers, making good use of the restored Franklin Lock Up. Much
loved local identity Jan Zappner offered 'Aerial Walks' to any
one who was game to walk with him in the hills. There was live
music all afternoon on the Green with acts such as the 'Heritage
Fiddlers', 'Blue Mosquitoes', 'People Next Door' and finishing
up with a set by 'The Colemans'. There was even an organ recital
on the historic 1827 pipe organ in Franklin's St John's Church.
Click here for slideshow
This
year's Focus on Franklin was an outstanding success, numbers attending
were higher than ever before and it was a credit to the small
band of volunteers who spent so much time and so much effort putting
it on for us - for the community.
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