Grand Final Festival

"G'day Y'all" - Australian Festival here in Nashville - Sept 30th - Oct 1st

The Nashville Kangaroos are proud to present the 4th Annual Australian Grand Final Festival - now recognized as the largest Australian Festival in North America. (NO ADMISSSION CHARGE).

The Festival, coinciding with the last weekend of the Sydney Olympics will give Nashville an absolute exposure to Australia and the great game of Australian Football.

Australian Exhibitors, Australian Football players and general public are coming from all over the United States to join this awesome Australian Celebration in Nashville.

Proceeds benefit Elmington Park and the development of Australian Football in the Mid South.

MAJOR SPONSOR - THE OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE

2000 Australian Grand Final Festival Details

The Festival at Elmington Park - Saturday September 30th & Sunday October 1st consists of:

Animals Down Under by Kentucky Down Under - an 800 acre Australian Animal Theme Park that will be setting up a petting Zoo at the Festival that will include kangaroos, wallabies, emus, kookaburra's and a dingo will be on display. A Dingo Dash will be run with the KDU Dingo as the races mascot.

Grand Final Festival Australian Football Tournament - 6 Australian Rules Football teams from throughout the Mid West and Southeast will be coming to Nashville to compete with the Nashville Kangaroos for the Festival Championship Cup. Teams confirmed to date are Nashville Kangaroos, Cincinnati Dockers, North Carolina Tigers, Atlanta Kookaburra's, Louisville Cats and the Travelling Wallabies.

Kids Down Under, which is managed by the Friends of Elmington Park - our appointed Charity for the Festival. The Kids Down Under will be providing an Australian cultural experience for the kids including games and rides. Neighborhood Associations around the Elmington Park area are also joining in with support and help in this fund raising effort.

Festival Entertainment - Australian Folk Singers, Chris Kanga and the Team Kanga Band, Will McClean - Australian Story Tell as well as Dingo Dash 100 yard sprint, Sheep Herding by Kentucky Down Under and Australian didjeridoo players and Australian storytellers.

Aussie Food Court - with food supplied by the Outback Steakhouse will be feature all the trimmings that the Outback Steakhouse is famous for - in our great festival atmosphere.

Australian Exhibitors - will exhibit the land of the 2000 Sydney Olympics - everything from Australian Merchandise to Boomerangs. Australia For Kids (Boulder, Co), the Australian Catalog Company (Atlanta, GA), Chris Kanga and Team Kanga (Montana), and the Nashville Kangaroos Merchandise.

Saturday September 30th, 8:00 p.m. - 12th and Porter

Roo Stages - the night time entertainment for the festival will be featuring some of Nashville's top bands including Dreaming In English, the Mike Plume Band and more and as is being held on the Saturday night in Nashville's trendy downtown music district - 12th and Porter.

Friday September 29th, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Elmington Park

Additionally we will be hosting an Aussie Rules Experience School Day on the Friday preceding the festival. (Sponsored by Bank of America). Aussie Rules Experience is an Australian educational and recreational program designed to educate and excite school children about the great land downunder.

For further information about the Festival please check out: www.beareware.com/grandfinalfestival

- Peter Beare, Nashville
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