The crowds flocked to the Dardanup Bull and Barrel Festival to enjoy all the wonderful attractions.

New to the Festival, the Tug O War was won by the Bunbury Barbarians Rugby team after a battle with the West Dardanup Firies in the final. The Talent Quest saw 9 performers competing for prize money. This event is sure to be on the programme in 2009.

The interactive musical sculpture created by local artist Chris Mc Donald, Chris Smith and the Dardanup Drama Club students and sponsored by Healthway to promote the Drug Aware message was thoroughly enjoyed by hundreds of children who played this and the other instruments during the day.

The musical workshops in the hall were also a big hit.

As ever the Down on the Farm arena saw many people watching the cow milking, horse shoeing and enjoying BBQ’d beef.

The Wine and Gourmet Food marquee hummed all day with Festival visitors sampling the local wine, beer, cheeses, olives and pizzas.

The local art in the Thomas Little Hall saw literally thousands attend this exhibition.

At the cooking demos it was again standing room only. Capel Vale Cafe chef Julie Lawrence excelled in preparing delicious food for all to taste.

The quality of athletes competing in the sprint races was top class and over 50 children competed in the Primary Schools Challenge.

The crowd roared when Russell Sheridan’s fire sculpture burnt which brought a close to a great day at the 2008 Festival.

The Festival Committee is underway planning a bigger and better Festival for 2009.

Comments from Festival visitors

My name is Mick Spinelli congratulations to all involved for organising such an excellent festival, not even the weather could keep us away!

John

I would like to thankyou for the fantastic effort that you put into organising a very successful event. We had a great time on stage with good feedback. I hope we can be a part of your festival next year! Regards and well done.

Sue

We thank you for allowing us to participate in your annual show. We are stall holders (wooden toys) .It was a pleasure to see a well organised show with smiling helpful volunteers. Well done and congratulations. Hope to see you next show.

Best Regards Jim Davidson

Thank you to our sponsors

The following businesses sponsored the Dardanup Bull and Barrel Festival in 2008. Please consider supporting them as they have supported this community.

Doral Mineral Sands, the Festival’s major sponsor, Shire of Dardanup, Lotterywest, Healthway, West Real Estate, Officeworks, Event Rent, Totally Sound, South West Development Commission, Worsley Alumina, Brookes Transport Co, TJ Depiazzi and Sons, Finesse Foods, Rose Hotel, Simcoa Operations, Tyrepower Bunbury, Wespine, Direct Fuel Supplies, Westrac, Laminex Group, John Holland SMP, Dardanup Butchering Co, J.W. Cross & Sons, Fencing Unlimited, Dardanup Removals, Machinery West, Raine and Horne, GT Fabrication, Mc Naughton Gardiner, Total Telephone, Bunbury Machinery, Dynea, WA Country Builders, AMD Accountants, Southern Districts Estate Agency, Dardanup General Store, Dardanup Post Office, South Western Times, Radiowest, National Foods.