Daylesford set a fun tone to welcome the new year last night with the New Year’s Eve gala and parade drawing crowds to the main street.
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Community groups, local families and organisations paraded their creative floats down Vincent Street in front of hundreds of revellers lining each side of the road.
Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens volunteers handed out plants to the excited crowd during the parade to win the people’s choice award.
The Matheson family was awarded the trophy for best decorated float. The family have entered 45 floats in the parade over the past 50 years.
The Daylesford Community Garden’s humorous costumes and signs earned the team runner up best decorated float, after winning the best decorated float trophy in 2016.
The street parade at 8pm came after a family gala with wood chopping, food vans and live music.
A petting zoo, jumping castle, inflatable slide, and old-fashioned games like pin the tale provided entertainment for children.
Midnight fireworks ended the New Year’s Eve festivities, with a ten minute show over Lake Daylesford.
DAYLESFORD PARADE WINNERS:
Best decorated float: The Matherson family
Runner up best decorated float: Daylesford Community Garden
Most unique entry: Residents of Swiss Mountain Avenue in Hepburn Springs for their Sound of Music float
People’s choice award: Volunteers at Wombat Hill Botanic Garden
Best costume group: Harry Potter group
Best costumed individual: Young girl who hoola hooped the entire parade
Best sustainability float: Plastic bag free Daylesford
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