Festival attracts 2000 people

Around 2000 people attended the Woytopia Festival held at Woy Woy South Public School on Sunday, October 31, according to organisers.

Run by the Peninsula Environment Group, the festival offered: green talks, world music, sustainability stalls, organic fresh food, an eco-barbecue, a hall full of activities dedicated to children and live shows all day.

Woytopia celebrated local Aboriginal culture and the taditional connections to the land with the Welcome to Country by Gavi Duncan, Ganang Spirit Dancers' performance, Bushtucker talks by Jake Cassar and the Dreamtime Mural.

A big crowd danced along to Indian dancer Jita Singh and her father musician Sardool Singh, and the dancing of Jita's dance students.

The Australia Walkabout Wild life Show and the unique Russell Crow Show entertained a hall full of children with shows about Australian flora and fauna.

One of the more unusual workshops was of solar ovens, guided by local industrial chemist Dr Joachim Muller.

Local school students set up a demonstration display of their home-made solar ovens and cooked with them under the guidance of Dr Muller.

The litter-free event demonstrated that there is the potential to run a festival with no waste going to landfill, according the festival's waste manager Ms Mia Hughes.

"We strongly encouraged stallholders to only use compostable or reusable packaging.

"Waste needs to be part of the planning process right from the start, to make an event as sustainable as possible."

Peninsula Environment Group president Mark Mann said: "Many local people volunteered their time and expertise to put together this first sustainable festival for Woy Woy and we are extremely happy with the turnout

"Our stall holders, speakers and performers have all been absolutely overwhelmed with the response."

Press release, 4 Nov 2010 Ylenna Zagic, Woytopia