It's going to be an ABBA-solutely fabulous weekend in Trundle when the small rural town hosts the eighth annual Trundle ABBA Festival. More than 5000 visitors will help inject an estimated $1.3 million into the local economy through accommodation, retail and hospitality. This year the festival is being held on Saturday, May 4.
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Parkes Shire mayor, Ken 'Benny' Keith OAM said Trundle's ABBA Festival was more successful at it's current stage than the Elvis Festival was in Parkes during it's eighth year, and with Trundle and surrounding communities going through hardship due to the drought, the ABBA Festival helped boost the spirit of locals. "It's a good opportunity to come together and forget about the fact that it hasn't rained much in the last 12 months".
Last year the Festival saw 5000 visitors descend on Trundle, and it's likely even more could attend in 2019. "It's grown every year so there could be 6000 people this year and I would encourage people out in the region to come out and experience the ABBA Festival, it really is a great night," Cr Keith said. "The best way to support towns in a drought is to actually come out and spend a few dollars in communities. So we encourage people to make the effort, particularly this year, to come out and enjoy the ABBA Festival".
One of the highlight acts for the 2019 event will be 'Bjorn Again' who are regarded as the most successful ABBA tribute act of all time. They were a huge hit in 2018 and are returning to Trundle to be the feature act as part of their 30th anniversary tour.
Cr Keith said the festival is a wonderful success story for the town of Trundle. "It's one of the most vibrant communities in Australia in terms of getting things down," he said. "We've got a positive attitude in hosting the ABBA Festival and that positively flows on top the community and farming community in particular".
People come from all over the central west and Australia to attend the ABBA Festival, and bring their caravans and tents and camp at the local Showground, but Cr Keith said what made the Trundle ABBA Festival such a popular and continually growing event, was the music.
"Australia as a nation really embraced ABBA all the way from Sweden. We loved the music in Australia and I think people remember that from growing up," he said.
"Then you have things like Mama Mia! (the musical) that have revisited that ABBA Festival, Muriel's Wedding, there's a whole range of things where that ABBA music has come to life again so the next generation also enjoy it. I think the chance to get dressed up and have a good time is all par to fit as well," he said. For more information visit www.trundleabbafestival.com.au.