Coming up: Monday 18th January – open 12 noon – 5pm. Annual Cultural Showcase official opening at 2pm – visit www.culturalshowcase.info for details.
Tuesday 19th January –  open 10am - 5pm. Annual Cultural Showcase all day. Art & Cavalcade Float Workshop at 3pm.
Wednesday 20th January – open 10am – 5pm. Annual Cultural Showcase all day.
Thursday 21st January – open 10am - 5pm. Annual Cultural Showcase all day. Art & Cavalcade Float Workshop at 3pm.
Friday 22nd January – open 10am – 5pm. Annual Cultural Showcase all day.
Saturday 23rd January – open 12 – 7pm. Country Music Cavalcade Parade. BBQ at 1pm. Pool Competition from 2pm. Table Tennis Competition from 4pm

Christmas School Holiday Program: The Christmas School Holiday Program for the Tamworth Youth Centre is now available for viewing and downloading on our website at www.theyouthie.org/ holidays. Come along and get involved! Remember to sign up for the monthly Youthie newsletter “The Sounding Board” and receive regular updates for activities and events organised by the Tamworth Regional Council Youth Centre.

Breakthrough - Emerging Indigenous Musicians Recording Initiative: Breakthrough provides an opportunity to expose the talent and creativity of Indigenous musicians to national and international audiences. Breakthrough aims to take Indigenous contemporary musicians to a wider listening audience by providing up to $25,000 to three emerging Indigenous musicians to produce a high quality CD suitable for commercial release. This funding can assist with recording costs, production and engineering fees, mixing, mastering, design work and printing, as well as associated publicity and media costs. Music provides an important vehicle for emerging Indigenous musicians to express their creativity and culture and Breakthrough offers them an opportunity to professionally record their music. It is evident that there is a lot of talent present in the Indigenous contemporary music sector and we encourage all emerging Indigenous musicians to apply for the Breakthrough funding and bring their musical talents to the attention of the mainstream music industry. Applications for Breakthrough funding close at 5pm on Friday 19 February 2010. For more information go to www.arts.gov.au/indigenous/breakthrough or ring 02 6275 9615.

Children's storytimes: Tamworth Library will be hosting some very entertaining Children's storytimes during the Country Music Festival. Bring your morning tea and join us on Monday 18th January @ 10am with Jay Collie from Jonah's Road, Thursday 21st January @ 10am with Guy Sebastian and Friday 22nd January @ 10am with Aleyce Simmonds.

Give up alcohol for a whole month? We double dare you! FebFast is a national health and charity campaign that dares Australians to banish the booze during February, the shortest month of the year. After the indulgent festive season, FebFast gives your liver a break while raising money for organisations that help young people with serious alcohol and drug problems. Giving up grog for 28 days can seem daunting to some, so in 2010 FebFast “double dares” you – sign up for FebFast with a friend, partner or family member and do it together. Funds raised from FebFast go to The Australian Drug Foundation, Youth Substance Abuse Service (VIC), Ted Noffs Foundation (NSW and ACT), Mater Hospital Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service (QLD) and several community organisations. During February, FebFasters will receive a range of discounts and goodies including free Step into Life group fitness sessions, discounts at GNC LiveWell stores and Endota Spa and concession price tickets at Moonlight Cinema. Kick-start your fundraising by paying the $25 ($10 concession) registration fee, then create your own page where your friends and family can donate online. All donations over $2 are tax deductable. While FebFast is a challenge, we don’t want to spoil the party – participants can purchase a date stamped ‘Time Out Certificate’ to celebrate a special occasion with alcohol. Take up the challenge and sign up today at www.febfast.com.au.