The day started off overcast with some drizzle and while the threat of the latest East Coast Low pounding the coast much further north may have kept some visitors away, the weather turned out to be perfect.

Festival committee president Orit Karny Winters said she had received lots of positive feedback and while the full report won’t be complete for another week, she estimated around 4000 people went through the gate.

“The forecast for rain and cloudy start did have an impact and some events had to be modified, but they still all went ahead in the spirit of getting on,” she said.

“The stallholders were all happy with their sales of food and drinks.”

This year’s festival theme was reducing waste and recycling, and the young students leading the parade were decked out in marine decorations made out of recycled items.

Dalmeny Long Day Care was named winner of the parade, followed by Narooma Dalmeny Bushwalkers in second place and Super Duper Hula Hoopers third.

The Djaadwaan Dancers then opened the festival after the Welcome to Country by Vivienne Mason.

David Polywoda from sponsor ActewAGL said he loved the colour and Eurobodalla councillor Milton Leslight congratulated the community on its eighth oyster festival.

The cooking demonstrations as always proved popular and this year it centred on local Narooma chefs preparing regional produce with oysters of course the focus.

On stage and overseeing matters, Shanna Provost in her alter ego “Mabel” was joined by River Cottage Australia host Paul West, with his nine-week-old son Otto strapped securely to his chest.

There were oysters from Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet, Batemans Bay’s Clyde River and from the Merimbula area, with the representative growers having trouble shucking to keep up the demand.

This year’s festival also turned out to the venue for the filming of the internet drama The Horizon viewed by millions daily.

Festival day was preceded by a producers’ dinner at The Whale Restaurant while Saturday night there was a rockabilly themed night at Club Narooma.

Ms Karny Winters said the vintage car club members were very happy with the event and planned on coming in even bigger numbers next year.

Other big hits were the climbing tower for the kids, while the “quick-and-dirty” boat building competition went ahead even though the Men’s Shed were the only entry.

“People were still very impressed with the boat and a couple said they wanted to build a boat next year,” she said.

Activities continued on Sunday with a poet’s breakfast at the new-look Narooma Marina and a round on the links at Narooma Golf Club.

The festival committee, based on risk assessment, lowered the budget by around $25,000 from last year’s event.

So they expect to make a profit and have committed to putting any money made back into next year’s festival and also to donate to the community groups that volunteered this year.

Full captions in the gallery to follow…