Beryl’s “baby” festival all grown up
Picton Maritime Festival volunteers, from left, Rebecca Woledge, David Collins, Beryl Bowers and Vicki Cook are set to mark the event’s 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary. Photo: Supplied.
It started small, an idea for Picton to have its own special day.
The Picton Maritime Festival is celebrating 20 years this weekend and for one of the main organisers, it is a particularly special milestone.
Self-described “short, excited person” Beryl Bowers says the idea came about after a regular regatta on Shelley Beach ended.
The first festival in 2005 shows what pure volunteer assistance and community spirit can achieve, Beryl says.
“It’s our little baby that’s grown up in front of us to be something so beautiful for the region to celebrate, and it’s blown me away every year to see the continued support behind it.
“For our first event I pulled on my contacts in the Girl Guides and local Playgroup and did a much more basic event off the back of our own enthusiasm alone,
“We never thought we’d be putting on something so massive 20 years later, so now that we’ve got a two-day festival and a fun concert for the locals on Friday before the full event on Saturday.”
Awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 2017 after running the first few festivals without funding, Beryl insists the award “is really everyone’s medal, I was just lucky enough to be given it.”
The popular event on Picton’s Foreshore attracts thousands of people
Beryl says seeing everyone’s excitement for the festival is the highlight of her year.
“I didn’t know this year was so big until the mayor asked me if we had anything special for the 20th anniversary when she told me she was excited for it,” she says.
Having the same volunteers coming back each year while the Maritime Festival has exponentially expanded means they must be doing something right, Beryl says.
“Seeing families come and set up their spot for the day and enjoy such a fun day on the Foreshore, it makes the organisation and the full shed of Festival equipment at home so worthwhile.
“Our little baby event has really now grown up, and it’s wonderful to see”.
The Picton Maritime Festival is on the 17 and 18 of January, with entertainment from 4pm – 10pm Friday and 10.30 am to 11pm Saturday on the Picton Foreshore’s Interislander Stage.