THIS year's final Horsham Country Music Festival is expected to attract hundreds of visitors to the Wimmera.
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Festival co-ordinator Lyall Wheaton said patrons travelled mainly from regional Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
"I recently spoke to a Horsham motel and they told me that they had received the most enquiries about this year's festival than any other year," he said.
Horsham Rural City Council's business and tourism co-ordinator Chris McClure said the council had supported the festival since it started in 2008.
"This festival draws a slightly different demographic to the region than what we would normally get. They are generally older and will spend money at our caravan parks," he said.
"While this will be the last event, its departure will mean that there will be room for other events to fill the space."
The council allows visitors to camp at the Horsham Showgrounds when caravan parks are full.
Horsham Riverside Caravan Park co-manager Sue Jones said the festival provided the park with one of its busiest times.
"We are at full capacity for both our sites and cabins. We're in a really good location here being so close to the soundshell," she said.
Ms Jones said park patrons travelled from across the country for the festival. She said she was "devastated" that the festival wouldn't continue.
"Hopefully there is a group of people who will try to take it on. It's a great event for the community and not only benefits accommodation businesses like us, but other businesses in town too," she said.
The 2019 Horsham Country Music Festival will run until Sunday, March 24.
Featured artists on this year's line-up include Peter Coad and the Coad Sisters, Col Perkins, Sandi Dodd, Johanna Hemara, Brian Letton and Justin Standley.
Festival passes are available at the Horsham and Grampians Visitor Information Centre. More information is available at www.horshamcountrymusic.com.au.
Swan song for music festival
THE Horsham Country Music Festival is set to end on a high note after 12 years.
Festival co-ordinator Lyall Wheaton has been involved since the event started in 2008.
"It was very small at the start. The first two or three years we struggled, but then we just grew," he said.
"We introduced walk-ups and busking later to encourage non-professional artists to have a go. There are people who have won our busking competitions who have gone on to perform on the main stages."
Mr Wheaton said the festival was ending due to the age and health of committee members, not because of financial reasons.
Former Horsham Country Music Festival committee chairwoman Pam Clarke was involved for the festival's first three years.
She was approached by Mr Wheaton to help get the festival on track.
"It was something that I knew would be really good for Horsham. The passion behind the event really came from Lyall," Mrs Clarke said.
"The festival brings all sorts of artists to the community and lets other artists have a go. There are also so many businesses and people in the Horsham community who benefit from the event."
Mrs Clarke said she was sad to see the festival end.
"It's really sad that the committee hasn't been able to find anyone to step up and take on the responsibility. Any kind of event like this is going to benefit the community," she said.
"It really was an event that showed off Horsham and the region to the rest of the country."
The committee will continue to hold its Morning Melody sessions and shows at the Horsham RSL.
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