After celebrating its 21st year, Carnivale 2016 is set to be given a new lease of life with Council to invite experienced event organisers to submit their proposals to manage the new three-day festival.

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The decision by Douglas Chamber of Commerce last month to hand Carnivale to Council came after concluding the festival had grown to such an extent that it now dominated the organisation’s core activities, which are primarily to drive economic development and offer information and networking opportunities to Douglas Shire businesses.

Ms Kitto, President of Douglas Chamber of Commerce said they were excited and pleased with the announcement.

“We believe that Carnivale has proven to be an important part of the Douglas Shire event calendar.  It was the Chamber’s recommendation that the event be placed with an event management company,” said Ms Kitto.

Mayor Julia Leu praised the Chamber of Commerce for its management of Carnivale for the past eight years but said Council is excited by the prospect of working with a professional event manager to make Carnivale even better.

“Carnivale is already a fabulous festival, generating millions of dollars in national publicity every year and attracting thousands of people to the various events,” Mayor Leu said. 

The purpose of stripping back the festival to a three-day event was based on community feedback with the future intention of growing the festival from there.

Mayor Leu explained that the aim is to consolidate Carnivale into a shorter three-day festival featuring all the major events consisting of the Macrossan Street Parade and fireworks, the Family Beach Day on Four Mile Beach, festivities in Rex Smeal Park on the Saturday night and the Seafood Extravaganza.

Ms Kitto expressed that the decision to consolidate the festival “is a really positive move, but I would hate to see some of the other events drop off.”

Of the major events that will form the three-day festival, Ms Kitto advised “they are really important and have proven successful,” noting that there had been growing interest in the Esky Racing as part of the program as well as other events.

“There remains an opportunity for other independent events to be included on the Carnivale calendar but by consolidating the program it maximises the opportunity for more locals and tourists to participate by celebrating the core events over the one long weekend," said Mayor Leu.

“Council is committed to the sustainability and growth of Carnivale and have contributed significant funding to promote this outcome,” said Mayor Leu.

Further details of the Request for Quotations to manage Carnivale will be released at a later date.