Snow flakes are falling in the Blue Mountains

As snow flakes softly fall and nestle to the earth, Mother Nature quietly works away preparing her spring bloom.

Dear <<First Name>>

What an amazing month was had. We've sadly bid farewell to the 21st Winter Magic Festival. Crowds in excess of 40,000 made their to the Blue Mountains to be part of this great day. The weather simply couldn't have been better. Perfect blue skies, the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and waffles filled the air whilst at every corner there was a feast for the eyes taking in all the sights of the crowds dressed in kaleidoscopes of colour. The locals really excelled this year, you can see some photos below of the day. It didn't stop with the Festival during the day, as many continued onto the Winter Magic Ball that evening and Hogwarts was this year's theme. Take a look at the great photos below.

Yulefest continues in the mountains up until the end of August, so ensure you don't miss out and book your getaway today. Who says Christmas comes but once a year? We certainly don't in the mountains. Twice as far as we are concerned. Who knows, with the temperature gauge dropping as it currently has been - it was a chilly 4 degrees just the other day, we may see a few more snow falls and hopefully you will too on your winter visit.

My cancer fundraising continues with many great donations made by some of my beautiful guests - thank you. Read on below for an update and how you can help.

Bidding you all a very warm and cosy month of July and hope to welcome you to a Yulefest experience in our beautiful part of the world very soon. Read on to see what we have on offer and to find out what else is happening in the Blue Mountains.

Stay warm and cosy
Lorraine

Winter Magic Festival
On Saturday, 21st June, Katoomba came alive as we celebrated the 21st Winter Magic Festival. Crowds from far and wide ventured in and the whole town became a huge performance space. Street performers, many in varying costumes with peculiar hats had you stopping in the street just to take a look. Jugglers, musicians, choirs, magicians, illusionists - you name it, it was there. Market stalls lined the streets and the crowds made up of both locals and guests, were ablaze with colour - a magnificent feast for the eyes not to mention the world of flavours available for anyone who was yearning for a seafood paella, Belgium waffle or a gozleme.

Tom the Pom drumming and samba workshops have been amongst some of the most exciting parts of the Festival. Tom is a performer with an international reputation, having worked with many of the world's largest festivals.

A star of the Festival was Blue Mountain's based King Parrot Bloco De Samba with their Brazillian Beats who specialised in carnival rhythms. His beats had everyone up and dancing in the street.

What's on in July?
Here's what's happening during this month:

5th - The Bluebird Markets
5th - Sounds of Motown
5th - Rotary Farmer's Markets
6th - Leura First Sunday Markets
11th-15th - NAIDOC Art Exhibition
12th - The Sydney Comedy Festival
13th - Birds of a Feather
until 13th - W inter Exhibition
until 13th - Holiday Time
until 24th Aug - Undulatus-Linda Seiffert
Various - Waratah Market
until 26th - The Goon Show Live
until 31st Aug - Offshoots-A Florilegium from Cairns
until 31st Aug - The Art of Les Love
until 31st Aug - W inter Wonderland

See visitbluemountains.com.au for further details of all events.

Did you know?

Guests often ask me at this time of year whether it will snow during their stay. I usually tell them that it can snow in the Blue Mountains, but generally only in the higher elevations from Wentworth Fall up. So staying in either Leura or Katoomba actually may increase your chances of seeing snowflakes gently falling and making your stay magical!

This is due to the fact that the air mass is forced from a low elevation to a high elevation as it moves over rising terrain. This results in cooling air which raises humidity to form clouds which under the right circumstances can result in snowfall. The majority of snowfalls on the Blue Mountains result from cold west or south-westerly outbreaks.

Historically the local papers first reported snow from the mountains to the beaches in 1836. “The hills to the west were white!” came the Sydney reports of snow for this year. Estimates of depth vary but a few centimetres for the upper Blue Mountains was recorded in the first year of the Great Depression – nothing like snow to get your mind off your problems!

The largest and most reliable snow falls (in modern times) in the Blue Mountains typically occur in Oberon. At 1113 metres above sea level, it's the highest township in the Blue Mountains and is known for its decent snow-falls. In Katoomba snow falls on average one to two times a year in winter. Every now and then there are larger snows such as in 2012 that might cause closure of roads, but this isn't the norm.

Image above: July 17-19, 1965 Snow in the Katoomba - Mount Victoria area was an average 45cm deep, all roads were impassable and a chaotic train service was kept running by using steam engines to clear tracks."

The Winter Magic Ball

The theme of this year's Winter Magic Ball was Hogwarts and The Carrington Hotel at Katoomba didn't disappoint. It is part of The Carrington tradition to create a themed facade and a firework display from the roof. Whilst it's the middle of winter and rather chilly outside, this doesn't stop everyone coming together and huddling around watching the magnificent display - with a glass of red in hand of course to warm those wintery chills away.

Roger and I ensured we stayed right on track with the theme and hopefully you'll be able to guess exactly who we are........we hope?

How on earth can you resist port and chocolates by the fire? Allow us to spoil you

Romantic moments besides the fire comes with endless kindling and firewood supplied

SPECIAL - Book your 3 night stay and a bottle of Moet on ice will be ready & waiting your arrival....ahhhhh!!!

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