Quench your thirst for history and fun

What do crazy costumes, a world record attempt, music and dancing in the streets, prostate cancer, 24,000 bottles of free water, churches and old colonial hotels have in common?   They are all part of the World’s Greatest Pub Fest to be held on 13 June in Maryborough, Queensland.

Thousands of crawlers, dressed in outrageous costumes, will set off to the bang of an historic time cannon, and walk or ride a free shuttle bus around Maryborough’s historic old hotels - all in the name of claiming the Guinness World Record and raising money for Prostate cancer.

The 2010 Pub Fest will be Maryborough’s sixth assault on the title for the most people on a pub crawl, aiming to beat its own record of over 4700 official crawlers last year.

One of Queensland’s oldest cities, Maryborough set the original Guinness World Record in June 2005 with almost 1200 participants.  Since then it has fought off challenges from London,  Halifax, Canada and New York.

Publican Clay Clayton, whose Criterion and Post Office hotels date back to 1864 and 1870, is confident that 2010 will draw the biggest and most colourful crowd yet with a “Fringe Festival” the night before in Wharf Street, featuring Potbelleez, Mobin Master as well as local entertainers acting as a curtain raiser.

“We estimate that at least 10,000 people actually took part last year just under half of them handing in their “crawl card” to be officially recorded at the end,” he said.

“Most crawlers dress up, so picture around 5000 people in ingenious and elaborate costumes walking around Maryborough’s streets and you have a scene to almost rival the world’s most famous Mardi Gras.”   

This year the pub crawl has expanded to a city-wide festival, with a non stop program of live music, street buskers, “big kids” amusements, markets and street theatre adding to the spectacle. 

It has also taken on a “blue” theme in support of its nominated charity for 2010 - the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.     

The World’s Biggest Undies will be on show for all to see along the pub fest route and a “Jazz up Your Jocks” competition will help raise awareness of prostate cancer, while one dollar from the sale of each Pub Fest participation card will be donated to the foundation.

A number of initiative this year are also designed to  make the event safer and to  encourage festival goers to drink responsibly, including 24,000 bottles of free water donated by Diageo and free soft drinks at all pubs for designated drivers.  

A group of Maryborough churches will contribute towards the safety and well being of participants by providing rehydration and toilet facilities to those walking between the hotels.

Mid strength alcoholic drinks and soft drinks are recommended for crawlers who must sink at least one drink – alcoholic or not – in at least 10 pubs in seven hours to qualify.   

During the late 1880s, Maryborough was the second most important immigration port after Sydneyand the place thousands of sea-tossed immigrants took their first shaky steps on Australian soil after months at sea, before heading to one of its hotels to celebrate! 

At its peak there were almost 40 pubs in the immediate Maryborough area – many of which remain today and are part of the history-making pub crawl.

For more go to www.worldsgreatestpubfest.com.au

For information call Events co-ordinator Amanda French on (07) 4190 5617 or 0418 748 155 or email Amanda.french@frasercoast.qld.gov.au