Psycho time for festival

WITH more than 40 free activities on offer, this year’s Knox Festival is shaping up as a busy weekend for kids and parents alike.
Festivities will begin with a special screening of Happy Feet under the stars at the Tim Neville Arboretum from 7.30pm on Friday, 2 March.
The kids will be entertained by a range of performances and activities on Saturday and Sunday.
The outdoor trapeze – known as the Cloud Swing – provided by Ruccis Circus is sure to be a hit with budding young acrobats.
TV sensation Rock-It will perform one of their famous interactive stage shows on Saturday night, encouraging kids and parents to groove along.
Children’s author Andy Griffiths of The Day My Bum Went Psycho fame will make one of his hilarious and engaging appearances at the Ferntree Gully Library.
Kids will have the chance to win an Apple iPod in the Apples For Apples competition, where they will be blindfolded and asked to identify different varieties of local produce.
There is also plenty happening to entertain the older kids.
DJs from community radio station PBS 106.7FM will be showing off their skills, as well as teaching kids how to spin records and beat-mix. Breakdancing crew Wicked Force Breakers will be displaying their moves and holding workshops at 4pm on Saturday.
The Knox Basketball Inc three-on-three competition will be held on the festival’s portable half-court, with appearances from Knox Raiders and South Dragons players.
The Oppy Bike, a free community cycling event, will have individual and group competitors in a spin on Saturday.
As always, the musical component of the festival will also be a highlight.
On Saturday afternoon, Richard Clapton will perform on the main stage at 3.30pm.
Sunday’s tunes will be provided by Oxo Cubans.
As dusk descends on Saturday, patrons are invited to a picnic in the park at the cricket pavilion, including a community singing session led by Suzann Frisk.
This will be followed by the CFA Torchlight Parade and a fireworks display to cap off the night.
A comprehensive festival program is available from the Knox City Council website www.knox.vic.gov.au.
The festival will take place at the Ferntree Gully Recreation Reserve, 1010 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully.