It's a wrap for 2013

Arrivederci. Au revoir. Auf Wiedersehen. Despedida. Do svidaniya. Shalom  

And thank you for making the 9th Annual Festival of art and music amazing

We sold out six key events before the weekend even kicked off with the big bang fireworks - attended this year by around 2000 people who rugged up and gathered around Buffalo oval to see it all go off. They sure made a fair dent in the food food and drink supplied by local traders - the Green Bean Machine, Dhaba's food van, Woodend Scouts (of the now famous Scouts Log Cabin Cafe which totally blitzed it over the weekend), the ever-creative Blackbird cakes and Dutch pancakes.

Around 2500 tickets were sold - and thousands more streamed through the free program of events and activities (including our schools program taking artists and authors into the local schools) and art exhibitions.

The Bach Mass (with soprano Greta Bradman - pictured) and Brandenburg Concertos (two shows each) sold out early and fast, as did Tinalley and newcomer to the Festival - The Chamber Art and Coffee House, which hosted the landscape artists panel.

We revelled in the guitar genius of Tim Kain, chilled out to the Tony Gould Quartet, commemorated anniversaries of Correlli, Alkan and Britten, sprinkled in some Mozart and Beethoven and even manage to extend our classical boundaries with a little Lennon and McCartney. We welcomed back, due to very popular demand, Italian virtuoso violinist Davide Monti who this year spent some time in the local schools inspiring a new generation of Macedon Ranges violinists.

Our literary program explored Australia in the Asian century crime fiction (featuring our very own, now published, Woodend crime writer, Andrew Grimes - who was spotted at several events over the weekend), the incredibly dynamic duo - intellectual powerhouses Ramona Koval (pictured) and Sally Warhaft and more.    

We celebrated local artist Robyn Clarke, welcomed back our loyal exhibitors and moved into one of Woodend’s newest venues – the Normal Richardson Hall (St Mary’s) with an extraordinary display of children’s book illustrations and the showing of a film on graphic novels.

And that was all in one long, fabulous weekend. We can't wait for next year - 2014 - when we go all out to celebrate our 10th anniversary. See you there!

If you want to support us, sponsor us or join us - then contact us. Have a look at who's supported us in 2013.