Another successful Ficifolia Festival

About 2000 people attended the night time movie and fireworks display that wound-up Drouin’s Ficifolia Festival last Saturday week.

Overall attendance for the day’s activities at the Drouin recreation reserve was in the order of 2500.

Ficifolia Festival committee secretary Gail DaBinett described the annual event, held for the 34th year, as highly successful.

There were still COVID safety protocols to observe but nowhere near as demanding as last year when attendees had to register and the crowd size limited to 1000.

Ms DaBinett there was plenty to do from when the activities kicked off at 4 p.m.

There were 25 market stalls, eight food vendors, five rides for the youngsters, seven groups stationed along community alley and plenty of interest in the Baw Baw Arts Alliance mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Musical entertainment was also provided by local singers and bands.

The fireworks watched by many more than the 2000 at the reserve - they were visible from much of Drouin - was a particular highlight, Ms DaBinett commenting that Southern Cross Fireworks owner Tony Finlay always made a special effort for his hometown festival.

He lit up the sky above Drouin for about 10 minutes with a spectacular display held during an intermission in the screening of the family animated moving “Sing 2”.

She said the festival would return a small surplus which, as is always the case, will be used to buy items and equipment that to help improve future events.

The recreation reserve has been the venue rather than adjoining Civic Park for the past two years because of COVID safety measures.

Ms DaBinett said whether the festival returns to the park next year will depend on any rules that may still apply relating to COVID and a decision by the committee.

She said the recreation reserve’s flat oval surface had some advantages over the hilly Civic Park, especially for stall holders, and the hard standing areas around the ground can better accommodate activities in the event of wet weather.

However, many people would also like to see the return of the street parade including motor floats.

While the clean-up was finished within a couple of days Ms DaBinett said their was still much to tie up ahead of the annual meeting in May or June.

Appreciation certificates will be printed and hand-delivered to the festival’s 14 local business sponsors, thank-yous to volunteer helpers, exhibitors, stall holders and entertainers as well as asking for their feedback and the books to be balanced.