Celebrate Mount Isa’s 100th Birthday at 2023 Isa Street Festival

The 2023 Mount Isa Street Festival and Street Parade is pulling out all the stops to help celebrate the city’s 100th birthday, with Daryl Braithwaite to headline the night’s entertainment, which includes popular ABBA tribute group Bjorn Again.

Daryl will return to Mount Isa after his 2022 Isa Street Festival performance was regrettably cancelled on the day due to ill health.

Getting the party started, Daryl will take to the stage to break out his iconic hits, followed by Australia’s very own Bjorn Again, bringing all of the fun disco energy of the ‘70s with their recreations of ABBA’s best and most well-loved songs.

The Isa Street Festival is an annual Council-run event held during the week of the Isa Rodeo, and includes the Isa Street Parade, in which school and community groups and other organisations dress up and decorate floats to match that year’s theme.

This year’s event will be held in the Mount Isa CBD (centred on West Street and Rodeo Drive) on Wednesday, August 9, and the theme of the Street Parade is “Birthday Party! Celebrating Mount Isa Through the Ages”.

Mayor Danielle Slade said she hopes the community will go all out to celebrate the city’s 100th birthday.

“Participating in a float in the 100 Years Isa Street Parade would be a special moment in Mount Isa’s history, and I would love to see as many schools and community groups as possible taking part this year,” Cr Slade said.

There are four Isa Street Parade categories this year: Best School Entry; Best Community Group Entry; Best Themed Entry; and Best Costume. Cash prizes are on offer for first, second, and third places in all four categories.

As well as this, each Isa Street Parade entry will receive a $100 cash participation prize (unless they win a place in one of the categories).

To register an Isa Street Parade Entry, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/BP6CBHR. Registrations close on Wednesday, July 19, at 5pm.

“Mount Isa will only celebrate its 100th birthday once, so let’s make this an event for everyone to remember and to look back on fondly,” Cr Slade said.

“The Street Parade theme means people taking part can really have fun with their float’s decorations or how they dress up for it.

“And the Street Parade will be recorded, so your participation in the event will be a part of Mount Isa’s history.”

The 2023 Isa Street Festival will also include a Sideshow Alley, food and market stalls, a beer garden, and a fireworks display.