2022 marked the 10th anniversary of Lakeside Festival
After two years of COVID postponements, Saturday 19th March 2022 was a great success!
The local community and visitors from as far afield as Melbourne and South-East Queensland were able to ‘let their hair down’ with great music, delicious food, local wines and boutique beer with the awesome backdrop of Wallis Lake. Within only days of covid restrictions easing for festivals, it was wonderful to see that the festival attracted a strong attendance. With attendees happily enjoying a covidsafe event, data collected from ticket sales showing 62% local attendance and 38% visitors from other regions. The event even hosted a group from Norway and one from Germany who were holidaying in our slice of paradise. Visitors to the festival stayed in town for an average of 3 nights bringing a significant benefit to the local Forster/Tuncurry business community.
At the April 28th Lakeside Festival Inc. Annual General Meeting the committee recognised and extended a vote of appreciation to the local community, MidCoast Council, sponsors and volunteers for their ongoing support and contribution (financial, time and effort).
The committee are now considering what Lakeside could look like in the future.
Nationwide, volunteer organisations are struggling to recruit and retain team members. Lakeside Festival is unfortunately in the same position, without enough human resources to move forward with planning the next event.
Planning for the 2023 festival has been postponed
The committee will undertake a full review of the methodology used and outcomes delivered in presenting the festival in previous years.
An integral part of this process will be assessing the current trends and infrastructure supporting such events in other regions. Then determine how these may be applied/incorporated into future events for Forster Tuncurry. Feedback from patrons and stakeholders is extremely positive and encouraging for the events future. With an ever increasing following it would be shame to see the event lost, like so many other events in the past.
A call out for volunteers for future festivals
The Lakeside Festival committee extends a welcome to new members who could bring fresh perspectives and expertise to strengthen the event’s resource pool. The team meet once a month and, depending on the role, a volunteer could expect to donate a couple of hours per week of their time, for 6 to 8 months of the year. Then everyone pulls together with great satisfaction to present the festival over set up, event day and pack down.
Please get in touch for more information via email: admin@lakesidefestival.com.au
Check out what 2022 was all about!
https://youtu.be/dDtLlrqyuWw
https://youtu.be/jQMS5J4ahwI