THE Ritchies Boonah Arts Festival started Saturday and is proving to be just as popular, if not more, than its predecessors.
Last year a multitude of entries rolled in as Covid’s toll finally cleared enough for people to be able to get out and be involved.
This year it is all systems go and as midweek rolls around the excitement shows no signs of letting up.
This celebration of art, creativity, fashion and performances opened with bands from Boonah and Redland coming together with the Red Rim Concert on Saturday night.
On tonight from 7pm to 8.30pm is The Comedy Debate.
Throwing serious out the window, this is when Boonah school principals get a chance to debate ‘There is No School Like Old School’.
Also adding to the fun of the occasion are a few of ‘Fassifern’s funniest characters’, school public speaking winners and All Saints Choir.
Friday night is when the young ones get a turn in the spotlight with Youth Showcase.
Children aged four and over will perform and dance before an adoring audience.
Fashion powerhouse Liz Davenport presents a selection of her creations on Saturday September 9, followed by the festival finale.
If you love art and want to create there are several ways to do so.
Give the voice a workout on Thursday or Friday with Singing for Fun.
Sip and Paint on a pre drawn canvas with alcoholic beverage or soft drink in hand on Thursday night gives adults the perfect opportunity to destress after a hard day’s work.
Other workshops include The Art of Successful Travel Writing on Thursday and Memoir – Writing Your Best Story on Friday.
Ms Sawtell said this year’s festival looked to be its biggest yet with over 140 pieces of art on display at the Boonah Cultural Centre.
“I aim to make sure it is a whole community event,” she said.
“You don’t have to be an artist it is about involving any enthusiast group within the community.“It is lovely when we get phone calls from young people who say ‘I’m doing my level seven in piano, can I come and perform?’, and we say ‘yes, we’ll fit you in.”
So why does Ms Sawtell put in all the hard worked required to pulloff incredible arts festivals year after year?
“What I love is when children perform, enter art or take part in one of our events and a member of the public will say to them ‘wow, what you’ve done is amazing’,” she said.
“Sometimes this is the first time children discover their ‘thing’, and it’s the first time their parents have seen their child shine in this way.
“I have parents approach me afterwards and I think, ‘how special is that, I have no idea who you are but you’re obviously overwhelmed that your son or daughter, who was having difficulties is now up there being a star and doing really well’.
“We make sure it is for them to achieve, there’s no regiment and it is just like ‘here is your costume, do what you’re meant to do’.”
Read up on all the festival’s activities by visiting www.boonahartsfestival.org.au