IT’S the time of the year when hay bales get makeovers, and everyone is invited to Kalbar to experience everything the town has to offer.
Kalbar Country Day is the town’s version of an open house and every year it is packed out with visitors keen for a slice of authentic rural life.
Run by Fassifern Lions Club, this event is now in its 31st year.
“We have about 260 stalls booked in and the lead up to it is the hay sculpture competition, which is out and about right now,” Fassifern Lions Club president Don Young said.
The hay sculpture competition has been gathering momentum for the past few weeks with all sorts of clever designs popping up outside different properties.
Some may say they’re hay-ly cre’hay’tive.
“There is a bus that runs all day from the intersection outside the hotel and it takes 25 people at a time,” he said.
“You just book in to get taken around all the different hay sculptures.
“The passengers get a run down on the Kalbar township while they’re at it.”
Those who like prose and are early risers can enjoy a bush poets’ breakfast from 7am for a gold coin donation.
“The poet’s breakfast is sponsored so we will donate the gold coins to a cancer charity,” he said.
“We will also have three jumping castles, an animal farm and reptile handlers for the kids.
“Two stages are being set up with one at Salvation Army and the other at the church uptown where the school band plays, this is where local musicians will provide entertainment.”
If the kids need to expend excess energy, send them to the hay scramble and you’ll have some peace and quiet for a little while at least.                                                  “The hay scramble happens within an area we’ve marked off and under the bales chocolate is hidden,” he said.
“The kids get in there and just go for it.”
There will also be something called a carrot throwing competition, and this is exactly what it sounds like ... competitors throw carrots to see who can throw theirs the furthest.
“We start with the junior one and then older competitors get a go,” he explained.
“Every time though, an out of towner has walked away with first place, it’s often just a fluke shot but that’s what’s been happening.”
Kalbar Country Day also presents an opportunity to get some early Christmas shopping taken care of.
Mr Young said all stalls had quality goods with no cheap knock off products.
If you’re after quirky and clever handmade items for that hard to buy for person in your life, you may just find the perfect thing here.
For good old fashioned entertainment, homemade goodies and delicious country fare, head to Kalbar Country Day on October 21.