Nashville hosts 7th Annual Australian Festival

For the past 6 years, the Nashville Kangaroos have been bringing a little bit of the Land Down Under to Nashville. This year, the Nashville Kangaroos are back with their 7th Annual festival celebrating Australia. Once again, on a September weekend (Sat & Sun 13th & 14th September), Elmington Park on West End will become Nashville's own piece of Australia as the Kangaroos host to 2003 Australian Festival.

Starting in 1997, when a social crew of Australian Rules Football fans joined forces with an enthusiastic group that had started playing in the Nashville area and held the first official Australian Festival celebrating with a game of Australian Rules Football at Elmington Park followed by a BBQ and Party in Hillsboro Village.

Since those early days, the Festival has grown every year such that it is now a firm fixture on calendars, not only in Nashville and Tennessee but across the USA and around the world! It is now, without any doubt, the largest Australian Festival outside of Australia and provides those who are lucky enough to join in the fun, a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the great Land Down Under right in the heart of Tennessee.

The 2002 Australian Festival featured a variety of family activities, including Animals Down Under, Kids Down Under, Sports Down Under, Australian Exhibitors, Outback Steakhouse Food Court and Aussie Entertainment. Children (and adults alike) enjoyed visiting and petting Australian native animals provided by Kentucky Down Under, which included kangaroos, kookaburra, wallabies, cockatoos, a python and even a dingo. Animals Down Under also featured a sheep herding demonstration. Kids Down Under featured jumping castle, dunking booth, climbing wall, as well as games and other activities. Australian exhibitors show cased a wide range of Aussie goods and produce from candy to "meat pies" - an Aussie favorite of dubious culinary heritage and yes, even Vegemite. Sports Down Under featured sports for which Australia is known, including Cricket, Women's Rugby and Aussie Rules Football. 

This year, with a solid history behind it, the Australian Festival is set to build on it's most significant growth year yet in 2002. With a dedicated staff, committee and ever larger group of volunteers working hard, the 7th Annual Australian Festival on September 13 & 14, 2003 is sure to be a weekend of tremendous fun and enjoyment for the entire family - So come on out and say G'day y'all!

To check out the Festival Site go to - www.australianfestival.org

- Nashville Kangaroos
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