Plenty of fun on offer at Binalup Festival when Albany comes together to celebrate community and Australia Day

An interactive puppet show starring a giant numbat will be one of the major attractions of the Binalup Festival celebrations on Australia Day.

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will be bringing its oversized numbat to the festival to tell the story of a creature that believes it may be the last of its kind in the world in The Last Numbat.

The 30-minute performances will happen throughout the festival and each will call on 12 audience members to help control the 10m-long puppet.

Activities will again be brought together at Binalup/Middleton beach to ensure there is something for everyone at the event.

Minigolf, bubble soccer, music, archery tag, face painting, Menang Noongar dances, an obstacle course and giant bubbles will be among the large variety of activities designed to keep the whole family entertained from 11am through to 4pm.

Food vans will also be on hand to make sure everyone is well fed throughout the festivities.

The main festival will swing into top gear following the City of Albany’s Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Citizen of the Year Awards, which will take place from 9am.

Awards will be handed out to a citizen of the year, young citizen of the year, senior citizen of the year and community group of the year.

A new award will also be presented for the first time at the ceremony, the Annette Knight Community Leadership Medal.

The medal, named in honour of the former Town of Albany mayor who was also a long-time community advocate, will be presented to an Albany resident who demonstrates outstanding community leadership and ambassadorial qualities within a volunteer capacity.

The ceremony will also involve 28 community members becoming new Aussies.