Festival Location: Deniliquin, NSW, Australia

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Festivals, Car Shows, Parties

Deniliquin is the ute capital of the world.

The title was assumed when, on October 2 1999, Deniliquin wrote itself into history claiming the Guinness Book of Records title for the largest parade of legally registered utes in the world.

At that time, an amazing 2839 drivers took part, clearly establishing Deniliquin as the ute capital of the world.

Since that time, a new world record bid has been held each year (6235 utes were recorded at the 2007 event) as part of the annual Play on the Plains Festival held each September/October on the New South Wales Labor Day long weekend.

That has brought more and more utes and visitors to Deniliquin every year, showcasing not just the wonderful Deniliquin countryside and township, but also the spirit of those who love their utes.

Each year the event has attracted more people to it and the turnover generated by the event has increased dramatically.

In its first running, in 1999, the festival had a turnover of about $400,000.

That is a great achievement for a young festival that had its origins when a few people got together over a coffee to discuss potential opportunities to support the town.

They looked at developing the concept of the Beaut Ute Competition held at the annual Pastoral and Agricultural Show, and so history was made with the first ute muster as part of the 1999 Deniliquin Play on the Plains Festival.

This year's Ute Muster committee is planning to expand on last year's crowd and the activities organised to present a full weekend of entertainment for participants.

The country music concert on Friday and Saturday night, in itself, will draw a huge crowd to the event, even those whose first love is not in seeing the expected thousands of utes in all shapes and sizes set to decorate the Conargo Rd Ute Muster site.

Since the 1999 Play on the Plains Festival and Ute Muster, which attracted about 10,000 attendees, to last year's event, which had participant numbers in excess of 20,000 people, the reputation of the Ute Muster has spread across Australia and internationally.

The committee responsible for running the Play on the Plains Festival and Ute Muster relies on sponsorship to make it all come together. The Ute Muster is run by a nonprofit organisation. It retains sufficient funds to cover expenses until the next year's festival and the balance is donated to local organisations.

The heart and soul of the Deniliquin Play on the Plains Festival, the World Record Ute Muster site is where history is made. This year, as has happened for each of the previous two years, utes will be lined up there for the world record count.

Anyone with a pass to enter the Ute Muster site can take a walk through the streets, lanes and boulevards to see the largest variety of utes in one location.

You can talk to the proud owners about the 'love of their life' - their fabulous utes - find out the history of the vehicles, where and when they were purchased, what work has been done on them and their value not just to the owner, but in dollar terms as well.

If utes aren't your thing, then check out the pro bull riding championships, tractor pull, blue singlet count, lawn mower races and heaps of other entertainment for the family.

Now incorporated into the event is the Blue Singlet Record Count (the most amount of people wearing a blue singlet at the Festival). Last year saw a new record count with 1,587 people wearing the blue singlet.

So, why not join those who pencil in the Play on the Plains Festival and Ute Muster as a must attend event every year and make your way to Deniliquin to be a part of history.

Deniliquin Play on the Plains - When, Where and More Info Please

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