The countdown is well and truly on as Warwick and the entire district prepare for the festival that many see as the quirkiest winter festival in Queensland – Jumpers and Jazz in July (17-27 July).
And if you’ve ever been there or even just seen the pictures it’s hard not to agree.
Where else do you find trees, statues, caravans, cars, tractors and even the odd cow dressed in their colourful winter woollies while people of all ages, dance, sing and have fun – not just in Warwick but around many of the surrounding communities as well.
It’s just under five weeks to the much-loved JJJ from 17–27 July when Warwick is transformed with jazz, textile art, and a uniquely local twist on winter fun.
Preparations are well and truly in-hand for the event with the organising committee meeting more and more frequently and creatives putting the final balls of yarn to their art works.
Management committee president Pam Burley said at this time in the lead up they are actually in a pretty good place.
“We beat the deadline for our program to go to the printers by two days – so that’s a first – we are usually pushing ourselves trying to get everything done,” she laughed.
“The events calendar is already up on the website so every one can have a good look – it’s been there for a few weeks now and we will launch our full program today the 5th of June. It will be up online at 6pm tonight.”
So, what can we can we expect from Jumpers and Jazz this year?
“One of the stats that I do like to share, that I’m very proud of, is there are 45 event hosts contributing to the full calendar this year which represents nine communities across the Southern Downs,” she said.
“It’s something that we are committed to because when the Festival began in the heart of the CBD with the trees it was very much centralised around the Warwick CBD. But we are a region, we are the Southern Downs. So progressively, almost since we as the JJJ Inc Management Committee took over (2017 was the first one we ran as a not for profit volunteer organisation and we retained the status quo that year) but from 2018 we’ve been growing it and morphing the festival into what it is today.”
The event now encompasses, Allora, Goomburra, Maryvale, Swan Creek, Freestone, Mt Colliery, Killarney, Severnlea and Warwick.
“This year the Killarney Bowls Club contacted us and said they wanted in on it,” Pam explained.
“It’s really, really lovely when people reach out to us and say how can we be involved. The club is doing their locally grown pumpkin soup (or you can order from the menu) and then a bowls day. You have to dress in a jazzy jumper or a scarf. It’s called Beanie and Scarf Bowling on the Killarney Green and it’s on the first Saturday the 19th.
“We are very excited to get Maryvale in on our program again. We had them a few years ago and we’re very excited to have them back on board. I can actually see them being another Freestone because they’re starting to yarn bomb all these different areas around town. The school is getting yarn bombed, the pub, the community hall and they are doing some things in the park and running a butterfly café on Sunday 20th which is our grand auto day. We’ve been promoting it as “if you are coming from Brisbane call into Maryvale on the way out and enjoy some country hospitality”.
“That’s probably one of the things that we are really emphasising this year – the country hospitality.
“Three of the churches in Warwick are doing morning teas through the week as well as the Freestone Hall. So, we are encouraging people to enjoy the iconic sandstone churches and buildings and our country halls. Obviously, Freestone are big players in program these days and they love being involved. They will be yarnbombing something new this year. Every year they yarn bomb something else, last year it was a horse. Their repertoire grows every year as they find something new to do. They’ve done an outdoor dunny, a windmill and a tractor – they are absolutely spectacular.”
So, don’t standstill in Freestone?
“No, you’re absolutely right – you might get yarn bombed,” she laughed.
“Mt Colliery are doing their craft market, they have some quite unique things out there and again it’s a very old hall – a hundred years old, owned by the CWA. Swan Creek do their Jazzy Dance – they are regulars in the program.
“We’re very excited – we had them in the program for the first time last year – Ridgemill Estate. They’re doing the Naked Vines – we are very very excited to have our friends from the South in the program.”
Of course, the heart of the Warwick CBD is still the heart of the festival – filled with fun, music, events, yarnbombed trees and bespoke businesses that you won’t find anywhere else.
“When people contact us and say, when is the best time to come, I just say – for the 10 days,” Pam explained.
“If you can only come for a day, you pick a day and you come but if you want to come at the best time come for the ten days and you will not be disappointed and you will not be bored and you still won’t see everything.”
