People once again lined the streets for Dubbo’s annual DREAM lantern festival on Saturday night.
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The colourful lanterns marched from the Macquarie Regional Library to Victoria Park, where the Twilight Markets were held.
There was a little set back with rain throughout the day and chilly winds in the evening, but DREAM Festival chair Anne Field said she was very happy with the parade and markets.
“It went really well, and despite the rain we did have a really good, strong crowd,” Ms Field said.
“The numbers were slightly down but there were more than expected given the rain.”
Last year an excess of 10,000 people attended the lantern parade and markets.
Ms Field said the reputation of the festival continued to grow, with an extra 400 lanterns made this year after a series of workshops with schools and the Western Plains Cultural Centre.
The event had become something the community marked on their calendar, Ms Field said.
“It’s a really beautiful event and there’s a great sense of community. It was very well received by everyone I spoke to.”
The Festival was almost cancelled this year after the funding normally provided by Dubbo Regional Council was on rocky ground.
Last year the event had to prove it was worthy of council’s $40,000 annual contribution. After an incredible response from the whole region with an influx of letters to council, as well as detailed data on the event’s economic benefits, council agreed to continue the funding.
“We’re very thankful. We work hard to put it together and we all do it because we love it,” Ms Field said.
“Half of our committee took annual leave on Friday to set it all up. They’re all so dedicated.
“We have a committee of nine, plus 50-odd volunteers, not including groups like South Dubbo Rotary. They’re amazing. They count people at the gate and do surveys of their postcodes so we know where they’ve come from.”
Founding committee members Bruce and Val Buchanan spent their 50th wedding anniversary helping at the festival, Ms Field said.
“We’ve got a good group. Great committee, great volunteers and lots of sponsors,” she said.
On Sunday the DREAM Festival held Zoocoustics at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
The casual music session featured Haleigh Hing, Miriam Parker and Gabrielle Flanagan.
Monday afternoon there will be Sushi in the Shoyoen Gardens from 6pm to 9pm. The event replaces the multiple DREAM Festival dinners held in previous years.
While on Tuesday night journalist Jack Marx will be interviewed at a dinner at Outlook Cafe.