Thousands streamed through the gates for what was the 25th installment of the community-ran festival.

The event is a one-stop showcase for the Heywood community, rolling elements of an agricultural show, a music and cultural festival and a truck and ute show into one.

Working with wood took centre stage on the festival program with the woodchopping competition a highlight of the day.

Winner of the blue ribbon event was Kahu Woolley from Naracoorte.

Woolley has lived in Naracoorte for the last 18 months and is originally from New Zealand, where he has been a member of the Kiwi’s national woodchopping team for the 20 years. Despite the move to Australia, Woolley remains in the New Zealand team.

Saturday was his first appearnce at Heywood and he was pleased with what he found.

“I love it, it is a good competition,” Woolley said.

“Everyone is out there to win but they are all so welcoming as well. The crowd got right into it”

The woodchopping competition is overseen by secretary of the Victorian Axemen’s Association Ann Duryea, who has been involved in the sport for more than three decades.

Ms Duryea said the Heywood festival continues to be an important event of the calendar.

“We have some of the best axemen in Australia competing here,” she said.

“For a lot of the axemen, this is an event they make sure they don’t miss each year.”

The Heywood Football Netball Club were also involved in the festival with club members cleaning up the wood after each stage of the competition.

Club president Darren McDowell said members cleared away the wood and will then sell it off in raffles during the year.

“This is our second year doing this, it’s a good fundraiser for the club,” Mr McDowell said.

Another important part of the festival is the roses that come out in bloom at just the right time of year.

Festival committee member and rose competition steward Toni Ingram said the quality of the roses on show were again at a high level.

“The weather has meant we probably are down a bit on the number of entries but the ones we have got are very good,” Ms Ingram said.

“Country people love getting out in their gardens and there is always something special about growing roses.”

She said other agricultural aspects of the festival included art and craft displays, a tractor pull and a floral art competition. 

Festival president Ross Barclay said numbers at the event were on par with last years.

“It is a really good crowd, when we got some wet weather in the morning we thought that might have done some harm but it turned out no worries,”  Mr Barclay said.

“We try and have something to keep all the family happy, there is a lot of entertainment so we think most people we come away from the festival pretty happy.”

Music headline acts included tribute shows to Robbie Williams, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.