It was a wet start to the annual Barellan Good Old Days Festival Starting on Friday 2 October, but that did not deter the crowds, and the event was once again a huge success. The event ran until Sunday 3 October and the crowds were once again huge across the weekend with the weather turning out to be sunny, but the early rain kept the dust to a minimum at the Barellan Showground. Organised by the Barellan Working Clydesdales committee, the Good Old Days Festival is the biggest tourism event in the Narrandera Shire it is estimated that it contributes more than $1 million to the regional economy. It has been labelled as one of the nation’s most unique events authentically recreating and celebrating our nation’s pioneer heritage. Organisers estimate that more than 8000 people attended the event with advanced ticket sales exceeding the 2025 event. Some of the special events for the 2026 festival were two record breaking attempts of the largest number of bullocks yoked together in one team and the largest number of camels harnessed together in one team. Both records were achieved with 32 camels in harness together and 56 bullocks yoked together. Bullockies Phil Thomson, Ron McKinnon, Matt Stanford, Rohan Morris, Darcy Quinn and Joey Reedy will drove the large composite team of bullocks pulling a loaded six-tonne wagon to eclipse their 21st century Australian record of 40 bullocks set in 2025. Barellan Working Clydesdales president Bruce Bandy is one of three people that began the festival 15 years ago, he along with Steve Johnson and Aleks Berzins have all been involved with horses for their entire lives. Mr Bandy said it has always been about the horses, the festival grew out of an idea to celebrate horses. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, was at the festival and said this Good Old Days Festival has been drawing massive crowds for many years now. “It started with very humble beginnings, but now it is one of the region's biggest events on the calendar,” Ms Cooke said. “It brings in people from interstate, internationally, from far and wide, and of course our locals. “The stimulation for our local economy cannot be underestimated. “It's in the realm of millions of dollars, and for a small community like Barellan with a regular population of about 500 people, that's absolutely extraordinary.”
