THE dust has settled and the music has faded but this year’s Lost Highway Bluegrass Music Festival will long be remembered as the best ever.

“The Festival itself was an amazing success,” Organiser Sharon Wedd told News Of The Area.

“Everybody loved it, from the wonderful venues, to the outdoor entertainment, the market stalls and car boot sales,” Sharon said.

Hundreds of people flocked to Karuah for the three day event, and they came from all over Australia and overseas.

“We had some American visitors who’d planned their holiday to coincide with the Bluegrass Festival.”

“We also had some Belgian and Swedish backpackers who came on board as volunteers, working on the bar and helping out with security.”

In all, more than 50 people volunteered their services to help organise and run the event.

The introduction of a water taxi to bring visitors from the Bay, Soldiers Point and North Arm Cove proved a great success.

“Considering we only promoted the taxi for about a week before the festival, it worked really well and we’ll definitely have the service operating again next year,” Sharon said.

Planning is already underway for what will be a major milestone next year, the 10^th Anniversary of the Lost Highway Bluegrass Festival.

It’s now one of the major events on the Karuah Calendar and to grow Sharon believes they need to spread the word further afield.

“It costs a lot to put on a festival like this and we couldn’t do it without our major sponsors and the Port Stephens Council.

“For it to be sustainable, we need to grow.”

Sharon Wedd, who’s a member of the Karuah Progress Association, says the group will meet in the near future for a debrief and then planning for the 10^th Anniversary will get underway in August/September.

Sharon said “I’m exhausted after the event, but thrilled it went so well.”

 

By Margie TIERNEY