DESPITE predicted bad weather that all week threatened the Festival of King Island, record numbers attended both Friday and Saturday festival days and nights.
Families, younger and older King Islanders sat on the hill overlooking Currie Harbour, or positioned themselves under the numerous marquees protected by giant hay bale walls which were created as wind breaks in case the weather turned foul. The bar served local Brewhouse beers on tap.
The mammoth task of keeping the crowds fed and watered throughout the festival was taken up by the K&K Food truck, Murphy Summers with King Island Fresh, Mandy Potter in the Lions Food Van, Holey Donuts all needing to engage teams to keep the food lines moving quickly and at prices festival goers could afford.
The annual festival pie eating competition, sponsored by King Island Bakehouse was once again Saturday afternoon highlight. Toom Graham was simply too good for the gutsy field.
Later, when seen eating a steak sandwich, and having consumed further beverages he said that he has an advantage in that “there’s a lot of me to fill.”
The kayak race, which was to replace the traditional home-built raft race, was cancelled due to the rough sea conditions.
“If people start building their rafts now, they will consider bigger cash prize incentives for FOKI2024,” one sponsor said. The sun shone, the littlest kids to the biggest danced and played and a great weekend was had by all (even if some will need a week to recover.)
As the hoodies and tshirts said, ‘a fokin’ good time’.