BY FRAN ROBERTSON - NUMERALLA FOLK FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

IMAGINE a place with two beautiful rivers flanked with grassy banks where anyone can pitch a tent or park their van to camp.

Imagine a time when a feast of talented musicians, poets and dancers perform all day and late into the night.

Imagine all of this is totally free and anyone can go. No, it’s not a fairy tale. It’s the Numeralla Folk Festival.

How does this magic happen? Not by the spells of wizards, but by the generous efforts of dozens of volunteers.

Folk from our region, Canberra and the South Coast entertained those attending, and local folks prepared the hall, cooked up a storm and served ravenous customers all weekend.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council's outdoor staff worked their own magic by sprucing up the village, and Mother Nature sprinkled her enchantment with welcome rain to swell the rivers and cast a hue of green over the valley.

The festival, in its 48th year, was held on the long weekend, and was attended by visitors from all over the state as well as enthusiastic locals. Feedback from those attending was very consistent - such as 'thank you for a lovely weekend', 'we had such a wonderful time and it’s so beautiful here'.

The festival opened on Friday evening with a concert featuring Canberra band, The Banksi Sisters.

These gifted musicians brought songs from the last half a century of folk music as well as more traditional Irish tunes. Featuring Cassidy Richens (guitar, bazouki and vocals), Simone Dawson (flute and mandolin) and Rita Woolhouse (cello), they wove flowing instrumental melodies with tender vocal harmonies to bewitch the audience.

Corryong poet, Phil McManus, took the audience on a journey back in time to recreate the times and trials of Henry Lawson - his loves, his friendships and tales of country folk and humour.

Shoalhaven band, Blue Mallee, concluded the evening with folk at its gentlest - original thought-provoking lyrics accompanied by lullaby-like instrumentals.

Saturday presented an opportunity for visitors to make their own magic with beginner workshops for button accordion and African drums. No-one needed to bring an instrument. Thanks to drummer, Paul Mackay, and accordionists, Linda Bruce and Andrew Klippel, a box full of button accordions and a van full of drums magically appeared. The budding musicians were enthralled.

One lad was so keen that by the end of the weekend he had acquired his own accordion. And to top it off, he won first prize in the raffle - tickets to the National Folk Festival. This festival will provide him with an opportunity to participate in four mornings of workshops for beginner musicians to learn to play traditional tunes. Magic!

Saturday afternoon’s Blackboard Concert provided plenty of entertainment and the evening Bush Dance was fun for young and old with plenty of lively dancing accompanied by a fine bush band, led by Ray Mulligan.

The country market on Sunday morning was a perfect way to relax after the previous day’s activities, by enjoying a cuppa, catching up with old friends and new, and browsing about the stalls.

To top off a magic weekend, the afternoon concert was the perfect wind down.

The festival committee thanks all the people who made this magic happen. Now everyone only needs to wait until 2026 before the spell is cast again.