Ash Bolt
Organisers of Geelong’s Rainbow Festival have labelled the event’s return a “great success”.
The festival returned last weekend after being forced into cancellation at the 11th hour last year, with activities and lives music entertaining visitors on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10.
Geelong Rainbow vice president Carol Corbey said it was a positive return.
“It went very well, everyone I’ve spoken to that was there said they really enjoyed it,” she said.
“Numbers were a bit down on previous years, but there’s still a little bit of those worries around fully getting out because of COVID, as well as the [Formula 1] grand prix over the weekend, so it wasn’t a surprise.
“The weather was wonderful, the entertainment was terrific and the atmosphere was great – it was a very chilled out festival, which is what we were hoping for.
“The only way it could have been better was if there had been more people there to enjoy it.”
The festival started on Saturday morning with the Pride March from Johnstone Park to the festival’s new home of West Park in Pakington Street, where activities and entertainment were held.
Ms Corbey said the change of venue worked a treat.
“What a fantastic park West Park is,” she said.
“We moved the festival there because it’s close to our home, but it’s such a great space for these kinds of events.
“It’s so encompassing that no matter where you were, you had a good view of everything that was going on – it really should be used more often.”
