Seventeen bands provided the entertainment for the hundreds of punters at the music festival on Saturday, raising much needed funds livestock and property affected by the fire.

The event featured market stalls and food trucks, as well as rides carnival rides and show bags to entertain the masses.

Event organiser Sam Wilson said while she had predicted the event would raise around $5000, that target was hit by 4pm, and the ultimate takings would be closer to double her anticipated target.

“People are coming and paying their $15 to get in, and then handing over $50 and saying keep the change.”

Some of the younger members of the crowd found entertainment at the face painting stall, while others were intrigued by the wood crafting exhibition.

Ms Wilson said she had been overwhelmed by the support the event had received from stallholders and musicians alike.  Organisers decided to add a second stage to accommodate the flood of bands.  

“We got the go-ahead to use the grounds on the Sunday and by Wednesday we enough bands and we were turning away bands two weeks after,” Ms Wilson said.

With the focus on raising money for farmers and horse owners whose land, fences and livestock had been affected by the fire, attendees were also encouraged to bring along fencing materials, hay and horse rugs to help those in need.

The idea for the festival came after Ms Wilson set up the Facebook page Ballarat and District Livestock and Bushfire Relief in the wake of the fire.

Speaking to The Courier in the lead-up to the event, Ms Wilson said the group had decided to focus on those with land and livestock losses, as much of that damage was not covered by insurance.

All funds raised from the event will go into a bank account, with the money then being distributed among those affected by the blaze.

“The Ballarat community has just been fantastic.”

The music festival was one of a plethora of events which have been held since the fire burned through 1200 hectares of land on the weekend before Christmas.