LAST week's Yackandandah Folk Festival was a brilliant success.

With Backwoods Distillery, the Yackandandah Creek Distillery and the Yackandandah Bottom pub as new venues, the growth of the festival is helping to bring benefits to the community in various ways.

The lineup at the festival involved various artists from across the country, with some as far as Alice Springs like Barry Skipsey, and other local bands including the Forgotten Land.

Amelia Frankel, an emerging artist and Yackandandah local, said that as usual the festival was filled with lots of talent, and it was great to see artists who were all unique from each other.

Amelia played for the first time on the emerging artists stage, and said the positive atmosphere towards artists at the festival helped her feel at ease.

“I was shocked with the level of support and kindness shown towards me and other artists,” she said.

“It is an absolutely perfect space for giving performing a go.”

This encouraging and supportive atmosphere has helped build the festival over the years, with an increase in tourists at the event, something that is helping to support local businesses within Yackandandah and surrounds.

The Sunday markets the festival provided also helped aid local organisations and shop keepers, with a wide range of jewelry, soap, pottery, food and clothing on offer.

Amelia said the festival felt magical as a little kid, and was great at ensuring kids have a fun time in the parade and through other various activities.

“It still holds an element of this magic for me because the Yackandandah community is so great and organising an event which all will enjoy,” she said.