What's On in Leura - Annual Events

Leura capitalises on its gardens, hence the tagline, “Leura, the Garden Village”. Attractions in Leura and many of the events focus on the spectacular gardens, private and public. Very early in Leura’s history, gardens were designed and planted in the style of English or European gardens. Gradually the early pioneers to the Blue Mountains found a way to recreate a little bit of England in a tiny yard or on magnificent acreage like Everglades.

So it is that the major events in Leura are the Village Fair and the Leura Garden Festival. And it is no coincidence that the flowering cherry trees, in the centre of The Mall, bloom at approximately this time.

Autumn

Everglades Easter leura

Address: 37 Everglades Avenue, Leura
Phone: 02 4784 1938

The Easter Bunny visits Everglades hiding hundreds of chocolate eggs for eager girls and boys of all ages. Three-legged races, spoon races and games fill the garden with laughter and squeals from children and grandparents alike. If you want a royal breakfast served up, delicious pancakes, sweet or savory are yours. All the while, the Easter Bunny cavorts through the enchanted Everglades gardens.

Winter

Winter Magic Festival (June)

On Festival Saturday nearby Katoomba is transformed into a magical kingdom where a cast of fantasy creatures and wacky characters march in The Grand Parade down Katoomba Street. Music, music, and more music, along with live theatre, and performance art fill day and late into the night. It is a magical weekend of revelry, not to be missed. Perhaps this year, there will be snow. . .

Winter Magic Festival (June) Everglades Gardens, 37 Everglades Avenue, Leura
At each Winter Magic Festival Everglades Gardens kicks off a wonderful day for families with a magical treasure hunt. The heritage garden resembles a set of Alice in Wonderland where fairies, knights, wizards and pirates are hidden away in every corner. Belly dancing, Celtic music, magic, games and food hold at bay the doldrums of shortened days and long nights, and celebrate the magic of winter ahead.

The Ruby Bloomers

What do a scientist, a film maker, a nurse, an acupuncturist and several mothers have in common? A love of clowning around — and Leura is where it started.

In 2005, with funding from a community cultural grant, four circus professionals, women from Leura and Katoomba, offered a 10-week circus skills workshop that would open the lives of more than a dozen Blue Mountains women to physical fitness, new creativity and merriment. A year later, the Ruby Bloomers women’s circus is a non-profit community — cohesive, focused and performing — intent on making the area the ‘Circus Capital of Australia’.

These women have learned skills that push them to overcome fears, including performance anxiety, and they are thriving in the hilarity and joy of costumes, make-up, wigs, red noses, and long fake eyelashes. One clown shared a beauty secret: “Fake eyelashes give the muscles around the eyes a real workout!”

Aerial work (movement work suspended in the air using soft silks) requires a real leap of faith for someone terrified of heights. Acrobalance (building a human pyramid) demands upper body strength, and juggling, if your eyesight is a bit weak, leads to some hysterical scenarios. “I should take this more seriously,” confessed another clown, giggling at the contradiction in terms.

Venues are mixed, from street performances, busking and roving (mixing it up with the crowd) to schools and detention centres. They bring colour and laughter using typical circus tools: unicycles, stilts, poi (balls on the ends of string), hula hoops and sticks. The response from audiences often touches an emotional chord with the women. Out of this connection, they create character-based performances that build on themes of daily vulnerabilities and empowerment, and every now and then a political theme will sneak in.

Winter Magic 2005, the riotous Katoomba winter party, launched the theatrical life of Ruby Bloomers. With the overflow crowd, many were unable to see the troupe. A repeat performance in a different setting instilled confidence and love of theatre. Some weeks later, the perfect role for the Ruby Bloomers surfaced — the tarts — at ‘The Mad Hatters’ Tea Party’ in beautiful Everglades Gardens. Entertainers were born.

Long may these hilariously creative women create magic and make us laugh

Spring

Leura Village Fair

Springtime is nature’s amphitheatre on a broad scale in Leura. Cherry trees on The Mall’s median put on their best show in October and crowds flock to Leura to celebrate the passing of winter’s dark and damp days. The Mall is closed to vehicles for two days and the street scene is buzzing with over 100 stalls. Artisans and artists’ show off their wares, craftsman’s homegrown and handmade products are abundant, musicians, magicians ply their skills, and the street explodes with colour at every turn. For details, visit www.bluemountainsonline.com.au.

Leura Garden Festival

For nine days in October, public and private gardens of Leura open to the general public for a horticulture feast like no other. The Festival is a long tradition in Leura where the diversity of older gardens with more modern ones inspires creativity for our own patch at home. An all-day shuttle from the railway station will deliver you to each garden. All proceeds go to support local charities.

For inquiries, 02 4757 2539, or go to www.leuragardensfestival.com.au.

Summer

Summer Solstice Festival, Everglades Gardens

Magic, Music, & Medieval Combat at the Everglades help us celebrate the longest day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Market stalls offer hot foods and snacks. Place your order for Viennese pancakes or bring a family picnic and watch the Circus hi-jinks on the great lawn. Whatever your choices, Solstice won’t soon be forgotten.

Ongoing Events

Markets

Craft & Produce Markets, sponsored by various groups, are held at the Community Women’s Association Hall on Megalong Street each Saturday and Sunday

The Original Leura Village Craft Market. 1st and 3rd Saturday only Enquiries: 02 4784 1176

Live Music

Jazz at The Hillcrest. 117-121 The Mall. Saturdays. The Hillcrest Coachman has gained recognition as a great jazz venue. For details: 02 4784 3265

Jazz at Leura Gardens Resort. Lunch at the Olive Tree Restaurant is served up with great jazz. For details: 02 4784 4000

Live music @ Lily’s Pad (Heaven Scent) Sundays on Grose Street.
Wine

Wine Tasting

Leura Cellars. “The Cellars,” Australia’s largest underground wine cellar sets up on The Mall. Great wines and great conversations. Call for dates and details 02 4784 1122

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