Get out your masks, feathers, and frills. The Country Energy 2009 Casino Beef Week festival is adopting a Carnivale theme for this year's festival.

Casino Beef Week president Stuart George announced the decision at a function with gold sponsors to mark the 100 day countdown to Beef Week.

Stuart thanked the sponsors for coming on board again saying they make the festival possible and assured them enthusiasm is high for the 2009 festival.

"Plans are in place for an exciting event again this year that will feature traditional events as well as a few changes," he said.

"The 2008 festival introduced close to $1m into the local economy. The Festival not only brings additional money into the community it also has positive social aspects.”

Stuart told the gathering the Carnivale theme was inspired by the Casino on Parade event which will bring new colour and entertainment to the streets and the parade.

"The Casino Beef Week Festival Committee will be encouraging all local businesses to get on board with the Carnivale theme, dressing windows and making displays for the enjoyment of the community.

Casino on Parade, will bring  artists and performance groups to Casino . The artists will run workshops with the Jambama Indigenous artists, youth and older people and participate with them in performances and in the parade.

Renowned fabric artist Anne Leon will work with the Jambama Indigenous artists to create colourful flags and banners which will decorate the streets and floats, and make costumes to be worn in the parade.

The Spaghetti Circus youth group will train 20 local kids in circus skills. The troupe will then perform in the street on the main Saturday and join the kids in the parade.

The Samba Blisstas South American drumming group will run workshops for older people and then join them in performances in the street and in the parade.

The Casino Beef Week Festival Committee will be encouraging all local businesses to get on board with the Carnivale theme, dressing windows and making displays for the enjoyment of the community.

Casino Beef Week Festival Committee received an $8,080 grant from the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund to run the Casino on Parade event and is supported by Arts Northern Rivers, Richmond Valley Council and Casino Beef Week.