By Effie Caloutas
Take a step back in time and get ready to party!
The Mount Evelyn Street Party is set to transform Wray Crescent in Mt Evelyn on Sunday 29 October from 10am to 4pm.
The town’s shopping strip will be closed to traffic to cater for party-goers, who will flood Wray Crescent for the biennial 1950s-themed event.
Event co-ordinator Yolande Pickett said there had been increasing interest in the Street Party, which was hugely popular two years ago.
“We’re expecting 10,000 people for this year’s event,” she said.
“Two years ago in 2015, we had 8000 to 10,000 people and the interest is growing at a phenomenal rate.”
Ms Pickett said there had been studies undertaken in order to ensure the event’s ongoing success.
“We have done a lot of research into the era of the ’50s to make it a more authentic event,” she said.
Two weeks before the Street Party, Michelle Puckey’s shop window and Mikki B will transform into a 1950s exhibition, using genuine and vintage-inspired items.
Co-ordinator of the colouring competition event, Michelle Puckey, said her window display is a fantastic way to promote the event.
“It’s the only window display dedicated to the Street Party,” she said.
“It’s going to be a window display exhibiting memorabilia from the era – authentic pieces from the ‘50s.”
Ms Puckey says she hopes locals can get inspired to dress up before the event.
“We hope that the window display is something visually inspiring for visitors,” she said.
“We hope people get inspired and dress up in ’50s clothing.”
Meanwhile, a historical writing competition will be run by the Mt Evelyn History Group and the Mt Evelyn Street Party, open to all students from Grade 5 to Year 10, including a colouring competition.
In the lead-up to the event, there will be two dance classes, occurring at 10.30am on Sunday 8 and Sunday 15 October at the Mount Evelyn RSL.
The classes will be $10 each, or free for those completing earlier classes with Johnny Phung.
There will be sessions for anyone wishing to try out the look of the 1950s offered by Deborah Edge at Rockabily Babes in Lilydale.
The Street Party will include over-sized ribbons, decorating the street and children ushered by parents and teachers before singing on stage in the morning.
Beginning with a street parade at 10am, performers and people in ’50s outfits will keep up the energy all day long featuring hula hoop artist Miss Malis Walsh, who has performed for Mick Jagger.
Free and low-cost activities will be included including trackless train rides kindly provided by Children’s House of Early Learning and an animal petting farm through the generosity of Mount Evelyn IGA.
There will be pony rides, face painting and market and food stalls.
For more details, visit www.mtevelynstreetparty.com.
