View Gallery: Woombye Happy Days Festival draws big crowds despite organiser’s scare
Pictures by Ray Cash Photography
Woombye’s Hill Street was transformed into a retro wonderland on Sunday as the annual Happy Days Festival drew record crowds, swinging back to its 1950s and ’60s roots for a day of music, dancing and family fun. Festival Director Milo Frawley even managed to oversee the early afternoon’s events before a sudden health scare required he slow down
He’s since been given the all-clear and has praised the community’s support. Organisers estimate upwards of 1500 visitors turned out throughout the day, making this year’s celebration Woombye’s most successful yet.
Q&A with Festival Director Milo Frawley
1. What moments from the festival stand out most for you?
As our first band took to the stage - The Rocknrollabillys, the crowd was a little shy and the dance floor was barren. However, the Acting Up! Youth Theatre Academy troupe turned it all around. A bunch of the kids jumped up and began spontaneously dancing. The band were thrilled, the crowd joined in, and the day was now seriously underway. It was beautiful to see. Our emcee, LA Mitch, was another standout. He volunteered his services and brought an energy and a vibe that defined the day. But the fairy floss eating comp garnered the popular vote. It had the crowd standing and cheering!
2. How did your brief health setback affect the festival team’s operations on the ground?
Honestly, it didn’t. Running a smooth festival is less about any one person, and more about the depth of talent we have from our fabulous volunteer pool. This year we had almost 40 volunteers, some had been at it since November, while others presented for the first time on Sunday. In my absence, others filled in and I doubt anyone even knew I ducked away. It is a credit to the quality of our volunteers.
3. Were there any surprises in attendance or activities that exceeded your expectations?
I have come to learn that two main factors significantly influence crowd size. They are event promotion and the weather on the day. Our volunteer Social Media and our promotions officer (Steph) came on board three months ago and exceeded everyone’s expectations. She did a wonderful job getting the word out there. The weather gods smiled upon us (yet again) and aside from two brief showers, we had blue skies and a glorious temperature. We were thrilled to reach crowd numbers in excess of 1500 smiling people.
4. What feedback have you received from local businesses and sponsors about the festival’s impact?
The festival is intentionally held on a Sunday, so as not to interfere with all our local businesses’ usual working week. I believe the coffee shops may have seen some extra foot traffic as did the Woombye Pub. Ultimately, the day is not about making a little extra money for a few hours for any one establishment. It is much more about promoting our beautiful town, the wonderful people who live and work here, and all the great things we have such ready access to on a daily basis. Sponsors are crucial to the day. Many attendees may not appreciate how important they are to the festival. Their support is given willingly and with lots of community-spirit. As a result there is no admission fee or need to buy tickets. I already have several Woombye businesses from this year voicing support for our community for next year.
5. How will this year’s success shape plans for next year’s Happy Days Festival?
Our confidence grows each year. The community supports the event and wants it back, so we will strive to maintain our same high standard. We will hold a volunteers debriefing meeting later this month and will seek vital input from the ‘insiders’. Also, I strongly encourage the general public to email me with ideas and/or concerns. We will take it all onboard and adjust and incorporate whatever we can. Ideas for new attractions would be most welcome. The first Sunday in May is set for next year for Woombye Happy Days. Our major sponsor, Bendigo Community Bank Woombye, has already guaranteed another generous donation of funds.
6. What else would you like to say?
If you are a volunteer or a sponsor reading this article, please know your support makes a difference to the Woombye community. I give you thanks and recognition and hope you are aware you made many people happy with your participation. You have personally contributed to building the Woombye community spirit. To the masses of people who attended, thank you for coming and having fun and donating or buying raffle tickets. Your smiles and enjoyment gives great pleasure to our volunteers and sponsors. See you all again on May 3rd, 2026!
• For more info, email at woombyehappydays@gmail.com
