The Festival of King Island committee felt relieved as the weather forecast for the Festival of King Island weekend was as predicted.
The sun shone, the few clouds passed over Currie Harbour and only a slight breeze picked up going into the Friday and Saturday nights. Young and older enjoyed the view from the hill and mixed it up in the mosh pit.
“FOKI 2024 was a happy positive experience,” Festival of King Island president Kim George said.
“There was a great festival mood and artists, community, and visitors, by all reports had a great time and there weren’t any concerning behaviours.
“This was our tenth FOKI and while the numbers are still being crunched, I would say that the ticket sales were as good as last year.
“The artists once again are giving us fantastic feedback. We have delivered on our promise of ‘good times.’
“Their feedback gives us the confidence to know that we have the formula right and that’s what keeps the festival unique.
“All have time to absorb, explore, sit back, and take it easy, mix with other performers and share their stories and importantly mix in with the locals.
“Time and time again the artists comment on the openness and friendliness of the island and that FOKI is a great, well-organised fun event,” he said.
Sabine Gabauer and Ben Patton supported by helpers made the Green Room a home away from home with a King Island country feel with island produce favourites and community donated home prepared culinary delights.
The bar served local Brewhouse beers. The mammoth task of keeping the crowds fed and watered throughout the festival was taken up by the K&K Mobile food truck, Jai Freeman and the View Dining team in the Lions Food Van, Holey Donuts, Mike Fraser with his woodfire “Decent Pizzas” and ably assisted by Leon (Hollywood Jack Barnes), Macropod Coffee, and the King Island Leo’s kept the younger festival goers happy. All needed to engage teams to keep the food lines moving quickly and at prices festival goers could afford.
The annual pie-eating competition, sponsored by the King Island Bakehouse, was won by Tom Graham – his third successive win, even after receiving a six-second handicap. The introduction of the kids’ DJZ session on Saturday morning was appreciated by parents and kids alike.
The setup is always a big effort the week before the festival as the whole infrastructure needs to be put in place at Currie Harbour.
“The setup crew did a fantastic job. Rolling green grass is turned into a festival site with stages, marquees, sound, lighting, staging, bar, food vendors, power, water … in a matter of days. It’s a small, dedicated team and it would be great to have a few more hands,” Mr George said.
“We must give a big thanks to Greg Morris who year in and year out has supplied those big hay bales to give us site protection and this year hay bales are like gold.
“The crews start early and bump out of the site is all done on Sunday, starting early, so a giant thanks to Sharon Frosi who kept the Macropod van on site and provided toasties and the coffee coming.
“This was the first time we engaged security, and it was pleasing that they were relaxed and that the police also felt it was a great, well-run event.”
There are some kid-size hoodies still available, T-shirts and hats which can be purchased at the Post Office. Give it a few days, a bit of sleep and planning for FOKI 2025 begins.