More than 8000 people flocked to Bulli Showground on the weekend for the second annual Illawarra Festival of Wood.
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While the final count of how many wrist bands were sold is yet to be done the event founded and organised by Suzanne Montague and her husband Stuart Montague was busy both days.
“We have probably doubled the number from last year,” Mrs Montague said.
“We had 6000 people go through on Saturday and big crowds again on Sunday. The weather has been very kind to us.”
Mrs Montague said the event came about after her husband remarked one day about how good it would be to bring back some of the authentic experience with wood. They knew they were onto something of interest to people last year when 4000 people attended the inaugural two day event. But with more than twice as many people this year is has become so big they may need a committee to help them for third annual festival in 2019.
Mrs Montague said Destination NSW has helped them with a grant this year and Bulli Showground and the Greyhound Racing Association could not have been easier to deal with.
The additional promotion Destination NSW was able to help provide resulted in many more people coming from Sydney. The feedback was they loved seeing people doing things with wood such as carving spoons.
They also enjoyed attending the workshops where they learned about some of the traditional methods of working with and making things from wood.
And many of the stallholders said they wanted to come back next year.
Among the highlights were a Cobb & Co Coach pulled by Clydesdales on Sunday.
And some farmers from Bathurst who make wooden bucks.
“They were selling so many everyone was walking around with them,” Mrs Montague said.
There was also significant interest in the Log to Leg race which involved four teams of two competing to make chair legs the traditional 17th century way.
Children also found plenty to spark their interest.
The Bee and Insect Hotels sold out on Sunday afternoon.
And the Would Man posing in a wooden suit for photos was a huge hit.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
