ORGANISERS of the 10th annual Horsham Country Music Festival have hailed this year’s event as bigger and better than ever.
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The four-day event kicked off on Thursday and finished on Sunday.
Organiser Lyall Wheaton said crowd numbers were about 10 per cent up on last year.
“We were boosted by about 70 people from a motor home rally, who came for the festival,” he said.
“I anticipate they will be back again next year.”
Mr Wheaton said while motel bookings remained stable, there was an increase of people bringing caravans to the festival.
“The caravan parks were chockers and there would have been in excess of 80 sites at the showground,” he said.
“Normally we have about 20 per cent of people at the festival coming from South Australia and about 10 per cent from NSW and this year was the same.”
The festival kicked off with walk-ups at Horsham Riverside Caravan Park on Thursday afternoon.
A bush balladeer show at Horsham soundshell followed at night.
Friday’s program included walk-ups in Roberts Place featuring Wimmera artists and a tribute night at the soundshell.
A busking competition at Horsham Plaza and a country music spectacular filled Saturday’s program.
The festival finished on Sunday with walk-up poets, a gospel music marathon and a finale involving a range of artists.
Mr Wheaton said highlights of the festival included performances from Kiara Rodrigues and Justin Standley.
“If I had to pick, they were the two standouts,” he said.
“Another fantastic singer was Joy Adams from New Zealand, who was the first international act we’ve ever had.”
Mr Wheaton said busking at Horsham Plaza was brilliant.
“We probably had one of the biggest crowds ever there,” he said.
With the 2017 festival now done and dusted, the committee is already looking forward to next year.
“Planning for 2018 starts immediately and we are hoping for another really good crowd next year,” Mr Wheaton said.