Barraba’s getting revved up

Fast becoming one of the largest auto shows in the North West, the Back to the Bush Auto Festival, returns this Saturday 19 October with a jam-packed family day out! Set against the backdrop of the picturesque town of Barraba, this year’s festival is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever.

With over 200 vehicles on display, attendees can expect a wide variety of classic cars, vintage trucks and custom-built beauties, along with markets, free rides for the kids and even fireworks to close out the evening with a bang!

This event is proudly partly funded by the NSW Government through the Open Streets Program in association with Tamworth Regional Council. The grant enables the temporary closure of streets to vehicles for a day, transforming these spaces into fun and dynamic areas for people to enjoy a range of community events.

“Streets are not just for transportation but are vital public spaces that support local businesses, foster community connections, and contribute to both physical and mental well-being,” said Barry Harley, Tamworth Regional Council Events Manager.

“We are excited to see the positive impact these street activations will have on our community”.

Minister for Roads, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, Jobs and Tourism John Graham said, “We’re excited to support these events. Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than drive to. Our streets are a critical part of our public and social infrastructure. Great streets make great towns and centres and reflect the local community and culture. The Open Streets program is about temporarily transforming our main streets into vibrant and welcoming public event spaces.”

The 2024 event features an exciting evening program with live music starting from 5.30pm. Families can enjoy a high-energy rock show for the kids (and the young at heart) with Bunny Racket, followed by performances from local talent Kyle Cartner and the headlining act, Zac & George – all for free on the grounds of the Barraba RSL and Rec Club.

Aircooled Assembly Car Club has made this a yearly event, with a lot of sponsorship coming from Barraba business and the surrounding areas including Manilla and Tamworth. This event has previously won an Australia Day Award for best community event in Barraba and is made free to the community for all to enjoy and come visit Barraba.

To find out more about this action-packed day of family fun, amazing vehicles and great entertainment, head to www.tamworthregion.com.au.