'Touch of uncertainty' for Pub Fest in Maryborough
TALK that Maryborough's Pub Fest will not be held next year has been refuted, but organisers say it is not yet locked in.
Pub Fest chairman Brendan Heit said talk around the region that Pub Fest would not be held in 2016, was wrong.
With the Fraser Coast Regional Council no longer running the Maryborough event, Mr Heit said a legal event body needed to be formed before insurance could be sorted.
"Once we do that we can start going shopping for things like insurance," he said.
Mr Heit said firms who have insured similar events indicated they may be able to cover the event.
"I'm optimistic about sorting everything out," Mr Heit said.
But he admitted there was still a "touch of uncertainty" about the event's future.
"Not as much as what everyone is talking about though," he said.
This week the Queensland Parliament amended the Holidays Act, which returns Labour Day to the first Monday in May.
From next year, June's Queen's Birthday public holiday will be moved to the first Monday in October.
With Pub Fest currently falling on the June long weekend, events councillor Darren Everard said a new time may need to be sought.
He said the council had left it to a committee of publicans to organise and run the event.
"We're trying to let those who are going to benefit most from it, run it," Cr Everard said.
"At the moment we're talking about dates and the committee is looking at doing it on that long weekend in May.
"We need to be mindful that if people are going to have a drink they can't just get in a car and drive."
If the event is held it will be a world record attempt.
PUBFEST
An annual pub crawl in Maryborough
Insurance still needs to be sought for the event
A group of publicans and community members now organising the event
Source: Fraser Coast Chronicle, Hayden Johnson, 15th October 2015
Originally published as: 'Touch of uncertainty' for Pub Fest in Maryborough
