The gates have officially opened at Australia's largest outdoor festival following a three-year hiatus, and the vibe has been described by organisers as "surreal".
More than 120,000 people are expected to visit Woodford Folk Festival over the next six days, with some of the 7,000 season campers arriving on site as early as Christmas Eve.
This year, organisers have put a cap on tickets to ensure comfort for festival-goers, while new glamping tents and an upgraded Amphigrande venue aim to improve the popular New Year's Eve concert and overall festival experience.
Festival-goers keen
Ella Wickins, 21, from Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast has been coming to Woodford since she was a toddler.
"It's so great it's back because it's a tradition for our family," she said.
"We come on Christmas Day and try to get the same spot close to the entrance.
"I really want to see the environmental talks and also the political talks that I wasn't so engaged with in previous years — and I want to see the circus."
Miriam Korner from Stockholm, Sweden said it was her first time at the festival, which she described as "visually beautiful".
"I'm very impressed … people are talking to each other, people are caring," she said.
"Tonight, I'm most excited about finding some electronic and reggae music."
Taking it up a notch
Deputy festival director Amanda Jackes said she was pleased with how the event had begun.
"When you've got a lot of people coming all at once, small delays are expected," she said.
"But all the processes are working well, and all the campers got in and got set up."
The festival is best known for its environmentally conscious and philosophical program, but in recent years organisers have grappled with challenges caused by the pandemic.
Ms Jackes said it was "surreal" to be back.
"We have spent the last three years trying to improve different areas about the festival and the organisation and our processes," she said.
"So, we are taking the opportunity to trial new systems out as well."
New-look Woodford
The most obvious change this year that regular festival-goers would notice, Ms Jackes said, was the newly renovated Amphigrande venue.
"After the ticket sales were so strong in the early presale, we really made sure that the Amphigrande was of a size that would be able to handle all patrons that wanted to go there," she said.
"It's turned into an absolute jewel in the festival precinct — it's just lovely."
Glamping tents and a man-made swimming lake are other new additions, alongside a line-up of musicians, performers and speakers.
"There's a huge number of concerts, dance workshops, every type of music, visual arts workshops, and a whole children's festival," Ms Jackes said.
"It's going to be a cracking start to the festival," she said.
Australian artists John Butler, Boy & Bear, The Black Sorrows and The Black Seeds are among some of the local music acts, as well as international artists including Alysha Brilla and Tenzin Choegyal.
Comedian Magda Szubanski, and guest speakers including gardening guru Costa Georgiadis and environmental scientist Ian Lowe also feature on the event's line-up.
Official opening
Queensland's Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch officially opened the festival alongside Woodford director, Bill Hauritz.
Mr Hauritz said the festival had been "very close" to not returning after its three-year absence due to COVID-19 restrictions.
He said $4 million in state government funding over four years had helped to keep the event running.
"For many years Woodford's always been on the edge … this [funding] gives us a plan," he said.
"What makes us proud is we are contributors to the economy, we know that 35 per cent of everybody at this festival is across the border from interstate."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to speak at the festival on Wednesday.
ABC at Woodford Folk Festival
ABC Sunshine Coast will be at the event on Wednesday to record a New Year's Eve broadcast.
If you are visiting Woodford, you can join ABC presenter Sarah Howells as she features musicians and presenters from 2-4pm at Bob's Bar, named after regular festival patron and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.
Alternatively, you can tune in to hear the broadcast on New Year's Eve, at 7-9pm Queensland time (8-10pm AEDT), on your local ABC radio station, online, on the ABC Listen app, or on channel 25 on your TV.
