MORE Gippsland performers and stall holders than ever before will be present at this year’s Boolarra Folk Festival.
Festival committee president Ray Stewart said it would be the highest Gippsland content the festival had ever seen at this weekend’s 12th annual festival, to be held at Boolarra Centenary Park and Boolarra Railway Park.
“It’s always a good musical event. It attracts the biggest crowd than any other one day annual event in Gippsland,” Mr Stewart said.
The festival will begin tomorrow night at arc Yinnar gallery and shop with performances from Redwood, Britt, The Pegs and In Spite of Ourselves.
The event has a $10 entry fee with drinks available.
The main free event will follow on Saturday with organisers asking for a $2 car parking fee as vehicles enter the town.
Music will begin at 11am among the shady trees in Boolarra Centenary Park where 14 acts will entertain with almost non-stop music until 7.30pm.
Some of this year’s acts include Karavana Flamenca, Molly Maguires, Khristian Mizzi and the Sirens, Coalville Road, Borderline, Nigel Wearne and the Boolarra Primary School drummers.
The Boolarra Folk Festival Committee also plans to have a couple of acts play in the Boolarra Bowling Club.
Mr Stewart said this year they were also pleased to continue the open stage event between 8.30pm and just after midnight, which would be held for the first time at the bowling club, and food stalls would stay open later in the evening.
“The friendly and relaxed environment appeals to all age groups and it’s pleasing to see the continuing increase in family groups attending,” he said.
“We hope you can make it out to Boolarra for this year’s festival, this is one of the premier events in our region and with your support we hope it continue as a free entertainment event for many years to come.”
The event will also feature around 70 market and food stalls in Railway Park along with community group stalls, a healing tent and musician Steve Shultz’s drumming circle and busking.
Patrons are also encouraged to stay on the Friday and Saturday night by taking a tent or caravan and camping at the Boolarra Recreation Reserve, where showers and toilets are available for free.
The festival’s organising committee are seeking volunteers to help out for a couple of hours during the day, with activities such as selling wine, and manning the information tent.
For more information or to volunteer phone Ray Stewart on 0467 080 921.
