Celebrate 200 years of steam trains
Steam trains may have ceased operating as passenger trains, but you can still re-live those glory days by jumping aboard the Mary Valley Rattler to celebrate the 200th anniversary of steam train services. It was on 27 September 1825, George Stephenson’s Locomotion No. One hauled the world’s first steam-powered passenger train 26 miles (41km) along the Stockton and Darlington railway. The Mary Valley Rattler service from Gympie to Amamoor is just 17km but traverses the far more spectacular Mary Valley countryside. The century old C17 steam train will operate on both Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September and offers a glorious three hours of nostalgia, fine food and magnificent scenery ideal for Thomas the Tank Engine fans of all vintages. There are special carriages that can cater for wheelchair bound passengers, and even well-behaved dogs are welcome to share the ride with their owners. www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au
Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival
September sees one of the more unusual, but visually fascinating, festivals that also provides the perfect reason for exploring the Mary Valley’s rich collection of heritage villages, farmgates and attractions. This popular Sunshine Coast event began in Maleny in the late ’90s and scarecrows come out to play along roads beginning in Kenilworth in the south and into the Mary Valley via Brooloo, Imbil, Kandanga, Amamoor, and Dagun.
Many of the scarecrows are almost works of art and visitors can arm themselves with a Google map to find the scarecrows throughout September. The website has all the details: https://www.maryvalleyartslink.com.au/mary-valley-scarecrow-festival/
The Rangebow Festival 2025
There is something for everyone in Rangebow 2025 from October 9 to 12 on the Sunshine Coast. The Blackall Range comes alive with music, art, and family and community events ranging from classical music set against a backdrop of the Glass House Mountains to the Pineapple Parfait Cup, where everyone can get involved in a tennis and croquet challenge where Wimbledon meets Alice in Wonderland. Trippple Trouble will offer the smoothest vocal cocktail shaking up Australia’s jazz scene, while First Nations culture meets the spirit of community at the Mega Market Day in the Hinterland with stories, art, knowledge, and creations with local produce, handmade crafts and pancakes. To experience The Rangebow Festival go to www.therangebowfestival.org
