One of the first duties of new Narromine Shire Council Mayor, Ewen Jones, was to attend the local Dolly Parton Festival, and he loved every minute of it!

“This was the third Dolly Parton Festival in Narromine,” Cr Jones said. “It's been in the making for quite some time, but Covid stopped the first few from going ahead. This year we had about 1500 people at the oval on Sunday night for the bands and there were 1000 people in the streets at times.”

Narromine was singing “Here You Come Again” at top note, welcoming the 2024 Dolly Parton Festival which transformed the town into a vibrant celebration of music, fun and community spirit.

But, why Dolly Parton?

“A few years back the locals got together and decided we needed some kind of event to put a bit of a cash injection into the local economy and they decided on a Dolly Parton Festival,” Cr Jones said. “Unfortunately, earlier this year the event was cancelled.

We were grateful for the state government stepping in with funding, as that enabled to go ahead. The thing is that came with a stipulation of free entry to the event which doesn't give any scope to put funds away for next year, so we will have to look into community funding, and we’ve already made a start with that.”

Special guests at the event (besides the many Dollys) included Jennifer Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Road, who attended festivities on the Saturday night.

“It was lovely to meet her, and we also had Dugald Saunders attend," Mr Jones said. “It was a great atmosphere and no sign of any trouble. Everybody was just happy and having a great time.”

Dandaloo Street was closed off for the festivities, with the whole community coming together in perfect spring weather for a street party that kicked off the fun. The event featured live performances, food, market stalls, children’s activities, and of course, plenty of people dressing up as Dolly and Kenny!

“Islands in the Stream” played on as Narromine’s Cale Oval hosted the main evening event, with performances from stars like Tanya Andrew, Timberlina, and Brooke McMullen.

The crowd also cheered for the best-dressed Dolly and Kenny lookalikes. The band Ballz'N'All brought the evening to a close, keeping the festival goers dancing and singing until late.

Once again, the realisation of the 2024 Narromine Dolly Parton Festival was made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Susie Rae and Skye Rush, whose efforts turned the event into a true "Coat of Many Colours" triumph.

Narromine Shire Council thanked the community for embracing this fun-filled event and making it a calendar highlight. The organising committee also extended gratitude to everyone who joined came along to celebrate.

“From the foot-stomping music and dazzling costumes to the delicious food and incredible atmosphere, it was truly a celebration to remember. Your enthusiasm and support made this festival shine brighter than a rhinestone cowboy!” the committee said on social media.

“A special shout-out to all the volunteers, performers, vendors, and sponsors (and an extra big shout out to Phil at Narromine Shire Council) who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. We couldn't have done it without your dedication and passion!

We hope you all had a fantastic time singing, dancing, and creating unforgettable memories with us. Stay tuned for updates on next year's festivities—it's sure to be even bigger and better!"

"Until then, keep spreading the Dolly spirit and take care, y'all!”