The Nhill Fiesta Fridays series features four events, one every Friday night in February.

This year marks the fifth series, which the Nhill Town Committee runs.

Project manager Pauline McCracken – who initiated the event with John Rethus – said it aimed to promote community togetherness.

“John and I were talking one day about needing something like this in the town, and from that it just grew,” she said.

“We wanted something where people could enjoy great music and a fantastic environment – a cruisey, fun night by the lake foreshore.

“We chose a time of year where most of the farming sector has finished harvest, and school has gone back.

“We picked four nights because everyone should be able to get to at least one of them. We went with Friday as the end of the working week, and because we were aware many people have sport and other parties on Saturdays.

“People can meander down to the lake after work, grab some dinner, and stay for half an hour or all night.”

Each fiesta features a different music genre. 

Horsham’s Dave McMaster is among the performers for this year’s series. He will bring his bagpipes and rock and roll style to the first fiesta.

“Nhill College is also having a reunion and has chosen the first fiesta night as their meeting place,” Ms McCracken said.

“Our Karen residents will be doing some catering on the first night.

“We are also given new residents to the town free entry on this night, so they can come down and meet some locals.

“We’re trying to think a little more broadly about how to keep those community connections going; it’s about inclusiveness.”

Ms McCracken said Mick Coates – a popular artist at last year’s event – would return for night two.

“Our third night is harmony night, where we try to expose people to types of music they might not have heard before,” she said.

“The lake committee uses the final night as their fundraiser.”

Ms McCracken said the community had embraced the event.

“We always get about 200 to 300 people each night, but some nights – depending on who is playing – we can get up to 500 or 600,” she said.

“We have one-year-olds to 94-year-olds.”

Entry is $5 each night for people over 15.

Ms McCracken said there would be free children’s entertainment on the first three nights, including a teddy bears picnic, dreamcatcher and pencil holder-making activities, and magicians.