MACKSVILLE LANEWAY FESTIVAL

I'm still buzzing from the incredible success of the Macksville Laneway Festival on Saturday, March 11. Seeing the Nambucca Valley community come together in such large numbers to celebrate local arts and performance was truly heartwarming.

Despite the threat of wet weather, the festival was a hit from start to finish. From music acts like Billie-Jo Porter and Blind Pretty to dance performances by Valley Performing Arts Centre and Opal Dreaming, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

The highlight for me was the lantern parade after dark, led by giant cardboard puppets and accompanied by the infectious beats of local reggae sound system MC Fitzroy Lee feat. Fluxa. Seeing children and parents alike dancing, playing with hula hoops and juggling balls added to the vibrant atmosphere.

With workshops, book launches, artist talks, and even a fire twirler dazzling the audience, the festival truly showcased the incredible talent of our local artists and performers.

I'm grateful to the NSW Government for funding this event through the 'Reconnecting Regional NSW' Community Events Program and can't wait to see what next year's festival will bring!