Next year’s Kosciuszko festival will celebrate the centenary of the first Mass on Mount Kosciuszko.

The proposed festival events include a solemn Mass on the mountain, a fraternity flight, a special piano recital with a guest from the U.S., a concert, a laser show, and more.

Kosciuszko Heritage is seeking an interesting name for the festival and a logo. Any ideas should be sent to the director, Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek.

This year’s Kosciuszko festival, the Over the Moonbah festival, was deemed to be a great success.

Past Kosciuszko fesitvals organised by the Puls Polonii Cultural Foundation (the former name of Kosciuszko Heritage) include: Kosciuszko Music on Mount Kosciuszko (2006), the Mound and Mount Kosciuszko Festivals (2007-2008), the K’Ozzie Fests (2009-2010), and the Day of Fun at Kosciuszko Run (2011).

This is the proposed draft program:

Saturday, February 23, 2013

• 10 a.m.: a solemn Mass at the summit of Mt Kosciuszko concelebrated by the Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn and priests from all over Australia. This event is to be sponsored and assisted by National Parks & Wildlife Service as well as Snowy River Shire Council and St Kolumbkille’s Catholic Parish
• 12 p.m.: a Fraternity Flight over Mt Kosciuszko, with the African-American artist Roy Eaton joining Ngarigo elders on Cessna, to be sponsored by the Jindabyne Aero Club
• 5 p.m.: Intercontinental Re-Union at the Horizons Hotel, a special piano recital by Roy Eaton dedicated to the Ngarigo people, the traditional custodians of Mt Kosciuszko, featuring F. Chopin, Scott Joplin and Kosciuszko music
• 8:30 p.m.: outdoor concert and laser light show at the Strzelecki Monument, Banjo Paterson Park, featuring classical, pop and folk music and dances.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

• 8:30 a.m.: Mass at St Kolumbkille’s Church (optional)
• 10 a.m.: movie premiere about the Polish-Aboriginal Fraternity Flights over Mt Kosciuszko (filmed in April 2012) to be sponsored by Jindabyne Cinemas
• 11 a.m.: photographic exhibition, Catholic Life in Australia, in the Visitors’ Centre Foyer or St Kolumbkille’s Parish Hall
• 12 p.m.: stalls and a BBQ with traditional Polish food by Polonez Smallgoods, at Banjo Paterson Park, as well as a Kosciuszko Beer tasting sponsored by Kosciuszko Pale Ale Brewery.
• 1 p.m.: gala concert at the Strzelecki Monument, featuring folkloric ensembles, church choirs, singers and dancers, all celebrating the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Strzelecki Monument.
• 4 p.m.: Kosciuszko Brewery tour
• 4:30 p.m.: festival close.