What I loved about the Laidley Spring Festival, and why I will be back next year

By Ashleigh Howarth  

As a self-confessed foodie, bargain hunter and weekend adventurer, the Laidley Spring Festival was the perfect opportunity for me to combine my passions for one epic weekend of fun. 

Taking my mother and aunty along for the ride, we jumped in the car and made the one-hour road trip from Brisbane to the Lockyer Valley to take part in the festivities, which catered for people of all ages and interests.   

Here's are some of my top experiences from the festival – I will certainly be back next year!  

Buying fresh produce  

I’m a big supporter of the paddock to plate movement and like to support local farmers, growers and producers whenever possible.  

At the festival I was able to stock up on lots of delicious products like honey, jam, marinades, jerky and olives, which I can’t wait to tuck into.  

Hunting for bargains  

Going shopping in a town like Laidley is great because you find so many different and unique items you won’t find in your local Westfield.  

I did quite a bit of shopping during my visit, supporting both the small businesses in the CBD as well as the market stallholders - everyone had something different to offer!  

Some of the goodies I purchased included earrings, books, a picnic rug, soap, candles and a couple of plants that I must remember to water! 

There were also plenty of stalls selling clothes,  hair accessories, scarves, handbags, hats, shoes, bath bombs, sculptures, artwork, toys, leather goods, timber signs, metal creations and pet accessories which I enjoyed browsing.   

Eating lots of tasty food 

The great thing about festivals is there is always a smorgasbord of tasty treats and cuisines to try, and boy were there some good food trucks dishing up at the festival.  

From coffee and sausage rolls at the local bakery, to traditional Italian gnocchi, mushrooms on a stick, and some sweet treats like doughnuts and cookies up at the Festival Precinct, we made sure to try a bit of everything.  

We would have loved to try some of the other dishes like burgers, gourmet German sausages, Asian delights, waffles, and ice cream, but sadly, we couldn’t fit them in.   

Waving to the kids in the Street Parade 

We couldn’t help but wave to all the happy, smiley kids who looked proud as punch to be included in the Street Parade, which was held in the Laidley CBD. 

The parade featured lots of decorative floats, emergency service vehicles, vintage cars, tractors, bands, dancers, roving entertainers, and even a giant shoe, which was very amusing to see.  

Each float looked incredible with its balloons, streamers and floral designs, and it was evident a lot of work had gone into decorating them.  

Admiring classic cars 

I may not know all the different models of cars, or how many cylinders their engines have, but that didn’t stop me from admiring all the cars and motorbikes that took part in this year’s Show ‘n’ Shine competition. 

From chrome to classic and everything in between, a lot of hard work, love and dedication has gone into keeping the Roadsters, Pontiacs, Chevrolets, Mustangs, Cobras, Morris Minors, Sandman’s, VW Beetles, Hot Rods, Commodores, Falcons, and choppers in top shape.  

I happily spent over an hour taking pictures of the brightly coloured vehicles and chatting to the owners about their pride and joy.   

I also found my dream car – a 1966 black Mustang. I could see myself cruising the highway in that every weekend!  

Singing along with local artists 

One of my favourite things to do at festivals is roll out the picnic rug, sip on a cold drink, and tap my toes along to local artists who are on stage performing.   

The lineup of local artists at this year’s festival was incredible – not only did they sing hits we all know and love, but some also sang songs they had written themselves, which I think gives us a nice insight into what inspires them as an artist.  

You never know, they might just be the next big star, and I can say I saw them at the Laidley Spring Festival.