The move comes after president of the festival committee David Gatwood met with the organisers of the Denman Food and Wine Festival to discuss ways of working around the two being held on the same day.

It’s a decision Mr Gatwood said the committee hasn’t taken lightly given the festival’s long history in Scone.

“I respect that for 37 years it has been held on Saturday – but before 2016 there was never a problem,” Mr Gatwood said.

“In 2016 the Scone Cup Carnival was moved to the second weekend in May which was a decision made by Racing NSW.

“This then resulted in the parade moving to the first weekend in May – the same day as the Denman Food and Wine Festival.

“Since then we have seen a little bit of a downturn in terms of people attending the parade in Scone.

“So I decided to put the idea forward,” he said.

Mr Gatwood said that the change has not come without talking through all alternative possibilities.

“After talks with the Food and Wine Festival committee, there was no way they were going to change,” he said.

“They have held it on Saturday for more than 15 years.

“This move is showing that I’m recognising they have a model and I’m willing to show some flexibility so that the whole community can enjoy both events.

“Guests can come to the Upper Hunter on Saturday, enjoy the festival in Denman, the rodeo in Scone on Saturday night and the parade the next morning,” he said.

Scone Race Club CEO Heath Courtney has also confirmed that Racing NSW has the Scone Cup Carnival date set for the second weekend in May indefinitely.

“I made sure I went down all avenues,” Mr Gatwood said.

“I’ve also met with Council to start planning coordination of traffic in order to get the ball rolling.

“I’m hoping and what I’m asking the community is to show a little bit of flexibility with this.

“I am certainly acknowledging it is a big change - but if you don’t try it you will never know,” he said.

President of the Scone Chamber of Commerce David Luck said the chamber has welcomed the idea.

“From a business point of view, it’s probably my quietest day of the year that Saturday,” he said.

“You would think with the amount of people on the street it would bring in business – but it doesn’t.

“The change will mean it will turn into a normal Saturday for me because the street won’t be closed off,” he said.

“There are some businesses in town where it may be a busy day for them – they now have the option to look at opening on Sunday,” he said.

David Gatwood also said the committee is exploring the possibility of packaging the Denman Food and Wine Festival with the Horse Festival – attracting a bigger market.

“We are looking at the potential to package tours for the whole weekend,” he said.

“It’s something that I really think is worth pushing and we have to test these things in order to remain relevant into the future.

“There is certainly enough in the Upper Hunter for everyone to enjoy.”