The extended Winter Weekends festival program format will continue in the future following the success of this year’s event.
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This weekend is the final installment of the festival which includes art, food, film, theatre and more.
The event was expanded from two weekends in June and July to seven consecutive weekends this year, in a bid to attract visitors to Port Fairy during winter.
Chairwoman Meg Finnegan said while the program would be revised, the committee was pleased with this year’s festival.
“We feel it’s been successful,” Ms Finnegan said. “I think people have really enjoyed the variety and it’s given them the chance to look ahead and plan what they’re going to do.
“It has definitely increased the number of people visiting from talking to the shops and visitor information centre.”
She said the extended format would continue and said the committee was grateful for the town’s support.
“We’ll tweak it a bit but generally it will be in a longer format than it has been in the past,” Ms Finnegan said.
“The committee gives a huge thank you to everyone who’s helped, been involved, ran activities or helped set up. It’s been great.”
As part of this week’s activities the Port Fairy Theatre Group will perform Two Elements on Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 2pm.
Member Kath Harper said the production included an earlier short play Virtual Reality and a new one titled Garbage.
“Garbage is a deft and entertaining handling of the very topical issue of homelessness and the second, Virtual Reality has fun with the pitfalls of online relationships,” Ms Harper said.
There will be a wooden boat show and car boot sale on Sunday from 10am to 1pm at Fisherman’s Walk and Railway Place. It will feature a display of local and visiting boats, sea shanty songs and a chance to learn about the town’s river and ocean culture.
Italian food will be showcased at the Festa Italiano at the Merrijig Inn on Saturday and the Italian Long Lazy Lunch at L’edera on Sunday.
St Patrick’s Primary School and Port Fairy Consolidated School students have been making lanterns this week which will be floated as part of Sunday’s closing ceremony. A workshop will be held at the community market on Saturday from 8am to 1pm for anyone who is interested in making their own lanterns.
The lamps will be launched at Little East Beach from 5pm, followed by a last look at the Bathed in Light exhibition of iconic Port Fairy buildings.
For more information or to book go to www.portfairywinterweekends.com.au