THE future of the annual Buninyong Gold King Festival looks promising, with big plans for 2009.There were concerns about the future of Buninyong's biggest annual event, after it had been lagging in past years.But this year's festival was hailed the best ever by organisers, when it attracted up to 7000 people over the February weekend.This week, the festival's organising committee announced several changes to make the most of the increased numbers and support at this year's event.It surveyed Buninyong district community groups to get ideas on how to improve the festival for the future.There were plenty of suggestions for new approaches, to cater for Buninyong's growing population and their lifestyle changes.Some of the festival's developments will include a better arts program, featuring more contemporary forms of installation art.There will also be more public participation, street performances, a wider range of music and more involvement from community groups who benefit from the festival.Ballarat City Council Buninyong ward councillor Peter Innes has pledged both his and the City of Ballarat's continuing support for the festival, granting $7500 to help organise next year's event. The event is earmarked to be held on March 27 to 29, and has been moved several weeks later than usual, to show the town at "its golden best". Cr Innes said the new event time would help avoid the extreme summer temperatures that have impacted on festival-goers over the years."It gives the local schools more lead time to prepare for their involvement in the event," he said.