Australia Day 2017 Tamworth regional guide

Celebrations planned for Barraba, Bendemeer, Kootingal, Manilla, Nundle and Tamworth include barbecue breakfasts, damper cooking, thong throwing, gum-boot tossing, addresses from Australia Day Ambassadors, a Citizenship Ceremony and presentation of Australia Day Community Awards.

Three regional locations will also host visits from official Australia Day Ambassadors. Ms Saba Vasefi - an Iranian-Australian academic, feminist filmmaker, poet and human rights activist – will join Barraba celebrations, while Sky News broadcaster Paul Murray will visit Manilla. Nundle’s ambassador is Peter Herbert, an accomplished writer and producer, with television, stage, event work and film credits.

In Tamworth, the celebrations start with a church service at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, and continue into the night from 7pm with the Tamworth Proud Australia Day Concert in Bicentennial Park.

It ends at about 9pm with a spectacular fireworks display before the music continues with local band Splashpool.

Tamworth will also host the region’s only citizenship ceremony as part of its formal civic ceremony at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre at 10am. This year there are 37 candidates from 14 countries - one of the biggest naturalisation ceremonies on Australia Day in Tamworth in recent years.

At 3pm on Australia Day, Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall in Fitzroy Street is the venue for The Aussiest Australia Day Show hosted by the much-loved Jim Haynes.

The show will feature a huge line up including ventriloquist Darren Carr, Pete Denahy, Wayne Horsburgh, bush poet Peter Mace, Melanie Dyer and many more.

There will also be Aussie Trivia, Aussie Singalongs, and chook and meat trays to be won.

Tickets are on sale through www.entertainmentvenues.com.au or in person at Tamworth Visitor Information Centre or the Capitol Theatre, Tamworth.