PORT Fairy has again made the most of its time on centre stage with the town’s folk festival another resounding success.
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In its 39th year, the festival continues to draw huge crowds with this year’s event another sellout affair.
And while the main festival arena is home for up to 15,000 for the weekend, the same number flock to the Port Fairy CBD to take in the free fringe festival.
The line-up at the main festival arena has been rated as one of the best ever.
The presence of Sinead O’Connor gave the festival an extra buzz with the Irish star thrilling audiences who went along to her shows on Friday and Saturday night.
John Butler, The Gloaming, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jeff Lang and star UK folk music performer Richard Thompson were also on the bill.
The festival received a glowing endorsement from Thompson.
“It is a great festival, the crowd are very responsive and open minded which as a performer allows you to relax and enjoy it,” Thompson said after his first show at the festival.
“It is a unique festival, very Australian. That real personality that Australians are famous for comes through. Everyone is so friendly and supportive.”
Patrons at the festival were able to enjoy the shows in comfort with the huge tents erected keeping out any inclement weather.
When the sun did finally come out on Saturday and yesterday, a popular place was the new Speakeasy bar and beer garden at the back of stage two.
This was the first year the bar has been in operation with festival organisers proclaiming it a success.
Pat Brown, from Torquay, was one of the many festivalgoers who gave the beer garden the thumbs up.
“It’s a great area, you still get to listen to the music while sitting outside and having a quiet drink,” Mr Brown said.
“It is very relaxed and the perfect place to catch up for a chat.”
Out on the street the crowds were as big as ever, giving the large amount of stallholders set up for the weekend plenty of passing trade.
Hunnah-Lea James, from Warrnambool, makes her own range of vintage 1950s inspired dresses and set up a stall at the festival for the first time.
“It has been really good. Once the weather cleared on Saturday there have been a lot of people,” Ms James said.
“Today (Sunday) has been really busy, people really seem to like taking their time and looking at all the stalls.”
Such a major influx of people brings with it potential law-and-order issues but Port Fairy police have praised crowd behaviour over the weekend.
Sergeant Mick Wolfe said there had been a few minor issues, including under-age drinking and one person caught drink-driving, but overall police were pleased.
“For the numbers we’ve had we’re very happy so far,” he said.
“It’s all going good.”