FRINGE Mount Gambier has been touted as a significant tourism opportunity for the Blue Lake city given the thousands of people who attended the festival’s events over the weekend.
In scenes never witnessed in the city, it is understood more than 7000 people crammed into the heart of Mount Gambier on Friday night for the vibrant art-focused street party.
It is estimated a staggering 16,000 people attended Fringe events over the jam-packed weekend.
From the Jens Hotel corner, through to Cave Gardens and Penola Road, the city was swarming with people enjoying the dynamic roaming street acts as well as a smorgasbord of hospitality outlets.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM yesterday described the Fringe as “spectacular” and a major tourism and economic generating fixture for the city.
“The Lift-off street party was magical – it transported us into a world of fantasy,” Ms Martin said.
“The Fringe promotes us as a city that embraces art and culture.”
Explaining the event was a major economic driver, she said the family-friendly festival had the opportunity to become even “bigger and better”.
“I think it is one of Mount Gambier’s most significant events. It really gives us the opportunity to stake our claim in regional South Australia.”
Fringe Mount Gambier ambassador Louise Adams said the organising committee was thrilled with the community’s support.
“It was such an amazing display of what we can achieve as a community,” Ms Adams said.
She praised the sponsors, volunteers and the diversity of acts that brought the event to life.
“People could not believe the diversity of performers we had,” Ms Adams said.
“We all live in this town and we all live in a town where were want things like this to happen,” Ms Adams said.
Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
The talented artist estimated the crowd numbers both on Friday and Saturday night “doubled” compared with last year.
She said representatives from the Adelaide Fringe – who attended the Mount Gambier events – were “blown away” with the success of the Mount Gambier event.
“They were amazed how far it had come in just three years – it is a credit to the town,” Ms Adams said.
Praising the community for supporting the events, she said she was also thrilled a number of ticketed shows were sold out.
Moving forward, Ms Adams said she was excited about the momentum Fringe Mount Gambier was building and the continuation of the Fringe festival this week.
“We are building something sustainable.”
The vocalist said she was particularly thrilled with the turnout at the Cave Gardens on Saturday, particularly the thousands who attended the headline acts at night.
Ms Adams urged people to attended one of the ticketed shows being staged this week as part of Fringe Mount Gambier, which ends on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Tourism Mount Gambier chair Kent Comley described the Friday night Fringe Lift-off party as “amazing”.
“I have never seen the city rocking like it,” said Mr Comley, who praised the organisers of the event.
“The number of people there, the quality of the acts and the community involvement was amazing – it is a great initiative with great tourism potential.”
He said there was a “big opportunity” to catapult the Fringe into a significant tourism fixture given there was potential to market the event to interstate and intrastate visitors.
The tourism leader said the fact the Fringe already had a prominent brand meant there was huge potential to grow the Mount Gambier event.
He said cementing top quality acts from the Adelaide Fringe was a major coup for Mount Gambier.
“It already has the brand and name to propel the event further.”
Limestone Coast Police operations inspector Campbell Hill praised the community’s behaviour at the events.
“It all went like we thought it would,” Inspector Hill said.
“Events like this intend to draw a pretty good crowd of people who go along to enjoy the festivities.”
