On Saturday the streets of Katoomba were crammed as thousands of revellers ignored the cold to enjoy the Winter Magic Festival.
The festival to mark the Winter Solstice has its roots in pagan traditions but attracts a broad mix of people from the local community and beyond.
In the street parade there were children dressed as Chinese dragons and adults dressed as cartoon characters. There were belly dancers, drumming troops, and taekwondo teams. There were people in white make up and black coats, with sour expressions, who may or may not have been in fancy dress.
Stalls lined the street, selling kebabs and crystals, second-hand clothes and new age wisdom. Dozens of bands provided free entertainment for the crowds.
[portfolio_slideshow]
“It’s fun, excitement, colour, movement,” Captain America told Sydney Outsider. “It’s great for kids to come out with their families and see what the mountains is all about, embrace our culture, embrace our lifestyle.
“It’s a very inclusive and diverse community. There’s no rat race, no smog, it’s just a wonderful place for families to be.”
Kaiser Wilhelm said it was a day when adults could show children the power of their own imagination. “It has not been lost,” said the Kaiser. “It is there and it’s an undiscovered country, and if they look close enough and hard enough they will find adventure.”
Inside the Carrington Hotel where the Red Lantern Ball would be held Cloud Strife explained, “It’s like a little mini Mardi Gras where everything goes, and it’s all accepted and everyone is happy, and there’s no beatings or stabbing or bashings.”
No beatings, stabbings or bashings? Turns out the Blue Mountains aren’t as inclusive as people claim.
We had a fabulous time in Katoomba at Winter Magic. What I love about it is the unadulterated celebration of diversity. No matter who you are what you look like or what your orientation is… no one cares. We just care about having a good time, letting people just be and sharing our beautiful town.
A train pulls into Kings Cross station at 12.30am. A trickle of people spill out of the carriage, and ride the escalator upstairs to join a night in full swing.
“F*#king dogs!” A bloke with wild grey hair and a face creased with age and anger complains to his mate. “F*#king dogs are everywhere. Even two f*#king narcs at Wayside.”
Scruffy Murphy’s is more associated with glassings than gastronomy. As a serious foodie who eats at least three times a day, I’m a little nervous about what the chef will plate up.
Mitch Marinic, 17, has chased down garbage trucks all over Sydney to film and photograph them, and now he’s working as a garbo. He gives his insights into the city’s dirty secrets.
Scruffy Murphy’s is not just home to cheap schnitzel and discount jugs of beer. On Wednesday nights it adds a touch of glamour as it hosts Drag Queen Karaoke.
Chris Ryan was driving to Wollongong, expecting to see smog rising from steelworks, when instead he was struck by a tall, Oriental-style building rising above the landscape.
hey thanks for the pic of me and my friend in our gasmasks. been looking every where for one
We had a fabulous time in Katoomba at Winter Magic. What I love about it is the unadulterated celebration of diversity. No matter who you are what you look like or what your orientation is… no one cares. We just care about having a good time, letting people just be and sharing our beautiful town.