Hydro Majestic Casino Night

The Blue Mountains’ iconic Hydro Majestic Hotel will revive its most mischievous traditions and host The Roaring 20s Festival on Saturday, February 24.

Hydro Express vintage train from Central in time for high tea at the Hydro. Cost: from $130pp. SATURDAY, February 29. 8pm: Gatsby Casino Fundraising Night in the Majestic Ballroom. Cost: $50pp includes glass of sparkling cocktail on arrival and 10 playing tokens (further tokens are available for purchase at the venue). The Hydro Majestic at Medlow Bath was established by Mark Foy, who considered the hotel a ‘Palace in the wilderness,’ the scene of legendary parties, celebrity performances, exotic food and sumptuous decor. Foy himself was a renowned Gatsby-esque character. The Hydro Majestic is the leading Blue Mountains Accommodation, High tea and Hotel location. Events E: reservations@hydromajestic.com.au T:+612-4782-6885 Location. The Hydro Majestic Pavillion domed casino and Belgravia hotel suite. Time for tea: Patrons enjoy the atmosphere in the Wintergarden room at the Hydro Majestic. At night the room morphs into an. BOOK DIRECT & SAVE. Escape to the iconic Hydro Majestic in the Blue Mountains and re-discover the beauty of the Blue Mountains. The Hydro Majestic is the leading Blue Mountains Accommodation, High tea and Hotel location.

The ultimate day-long vintage celebrations will kick off with a community Charleston for Charity dance in front of the Majestic Pavilion at 11am.

The naughty knees-up dancing will be followed by a regional food and wine showcasing the culinary skills of Hydro Majestic head chef Mate Herceg and his team as well as other exceptional local producers, while a fashion parade of exquisite 1920s clothing will add an extra course to the long lunch menu.

Sumptuous high tea will be available in the Wintergarden Restaurant overlooking the Megalong Valley, along with history tours of the world-famous hotel.

In the evening, the grand hotel will resound with the likes of Al Capone, Dutch Schultz and Bugsy Siegel when it holds a Gangster Casino Night in support of Katoomba Hospital.

Guests over the age of 18 can play all the traditional games at casino-quality tables with professionally trained casino standard croupiers.

There will be an array of prizes, and money raised at the event will go towards refurbishing the waiting room in the local Katoomba Hospital emergency department.

Visitors are encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the Roaring 20s Festival by staying for at least one night at the Hydro Majestic Hotel or one of its nearby sister properties Parklands Country Gardens & Lodges, Echoes Boutique Hotel or Lilianfels Resort & Spa.

Blue Mountains: Double your odds at Hydro `20s gangster night

By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group Photo: David Hill

Support the CareFlight cause when you book one ticket to the Gangster Casino Night at the Hydro Majestic Hotel on Friday, February 5, and the original Blue Mountains party palace will double your odds with a second.

The event, which will kick off Roaring 20s-themed events at the hotel during that weekend, will celebrate the era of breaking with tradition, crooks and prosperity – without prohibition.

Guests can play Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, The Money Wheel with Majestic Money at casino-quality tables with professionally trained casino standard croupiers.

Prizes on the night will include accommodation packages, dinner and show tickets, day spa and high tea packages and more.

An 18 years plus age restriction applies for this event, which will be held from 9pm to 11pm and attended by NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres.

“The NSW Government is proud to support this great local event which raises money and awareness for the outstanding work of CareFlight,’’ he said.

“Events such as the Roaring 20s Festival and all that Jazz provide even more compelling reasons for visitors to come and explore the beautiful Blue Mountains.’’

Net proceeds from the event will go to CareFlight aeromedical charity. Donation receipts are available on the night for cash-in purchases only.

Established in 1986 with a mission to save lives, speed recovery and provide the highest standard of rapid response critical care, CareFlight has since helped more than 5000 patients a year.

CareFlight relationship development manager Andrew Whitelaw said: “CareFlight’s first mission, close to thirty years ago was flying two children after an accident in Lithgow. From those early beginnings, CareFlight has continued to service the greater Blue Mountains communities. Without the generous support of these communities, we would not be able to take off – literally.’’

Hydro Majestic Casino Nights

Escarpment Group general manager Ralf Bruegger said: “When the chips are down, CareFlight is always there for the community. Now it’s our turn to support them by raising the fundraising stakes.’’

Guests who book one ticket to the Gangster Casino Night will receive a second ticket for a partner or friend.

Elegantly dressed gangsters and flappers can relive the era of sumptuous architecture, saucy clothing, outrageous dancing and jazz music at the most famous hotel in Australia on February 5.

The popular festival will continue to swing at 11am on Saturday, February 6, when 1000 people attempt to reclaim the Guinness World Record for the largest number of costumed people dancing the Charleston at the Hydro Majestic Charleston Challenge.

That will be followed by the Majestic Long Lunch from 1pm to 5pm featuring regional food and wine, special guests, dancing and jazz music.

Guests can complete their immersive 1920s experience with Shanghai Nights of cocktails and canapes, lights, lanterns and jazz music to celebrate on the eve of the Chinese lunar New Year.

The Roaring 20s Festival will continue throughout February at other venues around the Blue Mountains.

Go to hydromajestic.com.au to book the Gangster Casino Night ($65 for two tickets) and other Hydro Majestic Hotel events and register for the Hydro Charleston Challenge.

Hydro Charleston Challenge: 1000 dancers needed

Dance your way into history at the Hydro Charleston Challenge

By Ellen Hill for Escarpment Group Photos: David Hill

The Blue Mountains needs 1000 dancers in 1920s-style costume to snatch a Guinness World Record back from England on Saturday, February 6.

The Hydro Charleston Challenge broke the official world record three years in a row but was thumped by the town of Bexhill in the UK in August with 503 people followed by an attempt with 975 dancers in London validated by Guinness in October.

Hydro Charleston Challenge co-ordinator Angela Corkeron said: “We want that title back and we’re going to take it back in elegant art deco style.

“Technically we need 976 dancers to reclaim the record but this is the Hydro Majestic, so let’s raise the stakes and aim for a thousand dancers to really smash the record.’’

Hydro Majestic Casino Night Club

Hydro Charleston Challenge co-ordinator Angela Corkeron leads the successful 2015 attempt

The annual Guinness World Record attempt for the largest number of costumed people dancing the Charleston will be held at the Hydro Majestic Hotel on the lawn in front of the Belgravia accommodation wing.

Pre-register online (www.hydromajestic.com.au) or manually on the day from 9.30am and practice the dance routine at home to the online tutorial (see the website). Practice sessions will be held from 10am on the day, with the actual world record attempt to kick off at 11am.

“There’s plenty of room. If the lawn fills up or you prefer to dance on a hard surface, step into the historic tennis courts overlooking the exquisite Megalong Valley,’’ Ms Corkeron said.

“We’ll even spill into the carpark if we have to.’’

Anyone can take part in the Hydro Charleston Challenge. All participants need do is wear a costume and be able to follow the dance for five minutes.

Click HERE to watch a Charleston dance tutorial to practice in private before the big day.

“Assembling a costume could be as simple as wearing a boa, a drop-waist dress and some Mary-Jane shoes (the ones with the straps, buttons or ribbons across the top) for the ladies and a loose suit and a Fedora for the fellas.’’

Gold coin donations will be collected for the Rural Fire Service Blue Mountains district on entry.

Escarpment Group general manager Ralf Bruegger said: “The Hydro Charleston Challenge is a chance to let your hair down and show off against the backdrop of this fabulous flamboyant hotel.

“This is where Mark Foy held legendary outrageous parties, where the famous and the infamous came; this is where Australia’s first Prime Minister died; this was the centre of the Blue Mountains’ heyday.

The Blue Mountains held the record for three years in a row

“The Hydro Majestic is definitely back on the party scene with all the flare and style of its first heyday.’’

The 2016 Hydro Charleston Challenge will be held at 11am on Saturday, February 6, followed by the Majestic Long Lunch from 1pm to 5pm when guests in 1920s finery will graze informally from picnic hamper boxes packed with regional delicacies, promenade on the lawns and dance the afternoon away to the strains of a `20s-style band.

The Roaring 20s-themed weekend will begin on Friday, February 5, with the Gangster Casino Night to celebrate the era of breaking with tradition, crooks and prosperity – and this time there’s no prohibition. Net proceeds from the adults-only event will go to CareFlight aeromedical charity.

The weekend will close with the uber sophisticated Shanghai Nights of cocktails and canapes, lights, lanterns and jazz music to celebrate on the eve of the Chinese lunar New Year.

The Roaring 20s Festival will continue throughout February at other venues around the Blue Mountains.

The Hydro Charleston Challenge and other Roaring 20s events at the Hydro Majestic Hotel pay homage to the decade when the region cut loose in an endless round of hedonism – sumptuous architecture, costume balls and high teas, saucy clothing, outrageous (for the time) dancing and jazz music.

Go to hydromajestic.com.au for more event, accommodation and dining option information and bookings, to register for the Hydro Charleston Challenge and watch the tutorial of the Charleston dance HERE.

* Escarpment Group is a commercial client of Deep Hill Media and Headline Publicity

The dance-off will be held on the historic tennis courts, the lawn in front of the Belgravia wing and the carpark