Even though it is off the main highway, Bermagui is definitely worth the short detour to visit.

To win a prize in the best-dressed themed competition participants must enter the street parade commencing at 10am, and will be judged in the categories of Best on Foot, Best with Animal, Best on Wheels and Best Overall Entry.

The judges will be in the crowd as the parade passes through the main street and onto Dickinson Oval.

Prize winners will be announced at the Essential Energy stage at 11.30am by stage manager Tony Jaggers - entry forms on www.bermaguiseasidefair.com

Ulysses Bikers will let everyone know when the parade has commenced and CRABS Bikers will close the parade at the rear end.

The Bega Brass band will lead the street parade procession and entertain until 11am at main stage.

“Oops! The Amazing Clown” will be there for the kids at 11.15am and again around 2pm.

Questacon is back from Canberra under a big marquee on Dickinson Oval, where two presenters will once again enthral young and old alike with walk up technology workshops and hands-on activities using high and low tech gadgetry.

The afternoon's musical entertainment from 2pm to 4pm will be provided by four of Bega Valley's most talented musicians when they perform a “Tribute to Johnny Cash.” 

“Teen Talent” with artists from Narooma High School will follow from 4.10pm to 5.30pm.

Professional sound engineer Gary Williams from Magpie Music in Bega will be in charge of the sound on the main stage.

Fantastic musician and all-round good guy Tony Jaggers will also be performing throughout the day on the Essential Energy stage and will assist the Seaside Fair Committee by managing the sound for Poets Breakfast from 7.45am to 9.45am where Men's Shed will provide bacon and egg rolls, and tea and coffee for the early birds.

Get there early for a seat as this event and the breakfast was incredibly popular last year.

MC Tony will also join “Oops!” the Clown” at the popular Pet Pageant competition at 1pm where animal lovers are invited to bring their pet along and enter the categories of “Waggiest Tail,” “Most Adorable Pet”, “Owner/Pet Look Alike”, “Most Clever Trick”, “My Buddy and I” (for children under 12yrs) and “Hall of Fame”- the star of the day.

The Citizen of the Year will be announced at 11am on main stage with the mayor of Bega Valley Shire Bill Taylor doing the honours.

High energy H20 followed by Zumba demonstrations will both be held mid-morning.

Market stalls, carnival, static displays, and free kid's entertainment under the big shade trees behind Dickinson Oval, where every small child wins a prize, will keep everyone moving.

A huge art and crafts and photographic exhibition will be on display in the Surf Club, as well as the “Art in Place” themed art exhibition upstairs at Fishermen's Wharf, and a Model Boat expo at the Country Club.

On Horseshoe Bay beach there will be a sand castle competition judged at 1.45pm and a “Hole in One Golf Beach Bash” from 2pm to 3pm where nearest the pin will win a $400 prize package from Bermagui Country Club.

Outside the Surf Club entrance Bermagui Chamber of Commerce and friends will provide Devonshire teas, slices and coffee and a place to rest weary feet from 10am to 3pm.

The Seaside Fair barbecue will provide steak and sausage sandwiches and cold drinks from 10am until late on food alley behind the oval.

So don't miss out on the many and varied events beginning with Bermagui Blessing at Fishermen's Wharf at 8am and ending with a bigger than ever fireworks display on the headland at 8.45pm.

Seniors have not been forgotten with a free variety concert at the country club on Sunday, March 9 from 1pm to 4pm where a raffle, several lucky door prizes, and afternoon tea will be provided. Good fun guaranteed!

More information and other events and times are on the programs distributed throughout the shire and Bermagui beforehand or visit www.bermaguiseasidefair.com 

THE “Umbrellas of Bermagui” project involves 15 big umbrellas being painted by artists in a wide variety of themes, thanks to the sponsorship of Bermagui businesses.

The umbrellas will be a huge attraction this year’s Bermagui Seaside Fair on Saturday with the 3-metre hand painted/decorated shade umbrellas going to auction directly after the annual charity auction in front of the main stage around 12noon.

Funds from the umbrella auction will go towards the local skate park, so make sure to bring your wallet!.

This is the first time that this type of fund raising has been held in Australia and has the blessing from the town of Harbert in Michigan, USA where a committee has been raising funds this way for their local charities for the past 10 years.

Here the profiles of three more of the fantastic umbrellas:

“Under The Sea”

Umbrella No 7 in the list of the 15 sponsored and hand painted umbrellas in “Umbrellas of Bermagui” Seaside Fair event is sponsored by Scott Neilson from Mitre 10 in Bermagui.

The Neilsons have been in business in Bermagui since 1994 and are proud to say they are a family business.

Mum Jeanette has just this Australia Day been awarded an OAM for her services to community.

The artist chosen by the Neilsons’ is Di Tarrant from Tura Beach. Di's umbrella is a little similar in style to Jackson Pollock or Pro Hart, with magnificent use of swirling colours and hidden treasures, and is called “Under The Sea”.

Di's list of qualifications is far too many to mention here, however we will mention Undergraduate in Studies in Painting UOL Curtin University WA, as well as Exploring Painting UOL RMIT University Victoria.

Di has exhibited widely and as a volunteer has arranged for magnificent murals of days gone by on the walls of an aged care facility at Pambula providing a calming atmosphere for the residents.

“Agapanthus”

Marshall and Tacheci Real Estate Agents of Bermagui has sponsored the eighth Umbrella in the series “Umbrellas of Bermagui”.

Marshall and Tacheci have been in business for 31 years and support the annual Seaside Fair by sponsoring and providing the prizes and judging the popular Sandcastle Building event on Horseshoe Bay.

Helen Morris, visual artist of Bermagui has painted their umbrella, and has called it “Agapanthus”.

This is the second umbrella Helen has painted for this event, and when asked why she chose this theme, which is quite different to the “Pelicans of Bermagui” shown in previous Narooma News, she said “Agapanthus is such a prevalent plant within the area, and is a noticeable addition and colour contrast to the natural environment that she so dearly loves.”

"Blue Wave Umbrella”

Award-winning Blue Wave Seafood of Fisherman's Wharf in Bermagui is a locally owned and operated takeaway fish and chips and fresh seafood business.

With a 4.5-star rating in the Australian Good Food and Travel guide, it is no wonder that Blue Wave is incredibly popular with locals and tourists alike.

Owner/manager Rosemary regularly supports the annual Seaside Fair and is proud to sponsor the amazing talented works of her chosen artist Louella McPaul from Bega.

Louella is an experimental artist constantly inspired by fusion and layering of pigments, and the abstractions that can evolve when paints are given their own time to blend.

She is fascinated with light and movement in landscape, and finds that each subject requires a different technique or medium.

For her “Blue Wave Umbrella”, Louella has chosen to concentrate on a marine theme that sits nicely with the natural beauty of the coast line of Bermagui.

Louella holds certificate four Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft with distinction and has extended her art experience as far afield as the Flinders Ranges and Greece, and exhibits widely throughout the Bega Valley, winning many awards.