POLICE have praised the behaviour of revellers at Newcastle's This That Festival, with only two people arrested and two others taken to hospital suffering from the effects of drugs.
The city hosted two festivals over the weekend - This That and Scene & Heard Festival, both at Wickham Park.
The festivals, on Saturday and Sunday, drew a total of more than 20,000 music fans.
"I can't praise the crowd any more than I have," Newcastle City Police District Commander Acting Superintendent Gerard Lawson said on Sunday in relation to This That Festival.
"From our perspective it seems that from year on year this crowd seems to be growing in maturity and it certainly was reflected yesterday."
All the photos: This That 2019 in Newcastle
But that pleasing behaviour may have something to do with the level of police presence.
This That was one of 14 events placed on the state government's "higher risk list" earlier this year following six drug-related deaths at music festivals.
There were at least 30 police positioned at the entrance and many more patrolling within the festival site.
Sniffer dogs were also in use at the front entrance.
This came after Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame made a recommendation on Friday that police should cease using sniffer dogs at music events following an inquest into festival deaths.
There was plenty of colour on display at This That on Saturday, with many using the event as an opportunity to dress up outrageously, party with friends and embrace their wild side.
Clear skies and mild late spring temperatures greeted the crowd of around 17,000 at Wickham Park.
Baggy Hawaiian shirts seemed the hot item among young men at this year's event, while less was more for many women, despite temperatures never rising above the low 20s.
Melbourne indie rocker Alex Lahey warmed up the crowd early, before Sydney band Middle Kids delivered one of most inspiring sets of the day.
On Sunday, an estimated 5000 people packed Wickham Park for the Scene & Heard Festival, featuring Wolfmother, The Dandy Warhols, Eskimo Joe, Sneaky Sound System and Magic Dirt.
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