Woodford's Crowning Glory

  The Woodford Folk Festival's Grand Finale is without a doubt the Fire Event. This spectacular event is considered by many to be the "main event" or at least the grand finale of the whole festival and is indeed patronised by ALL festival folk for it's performance. In fact every festival venue closes only for this event! 
 
Planned & co-ordinated by the well known fire artist team, Neil Cameron and Faridah Whyte, this event never fails to capture the hearts of all who attend. Their interest in the use of fire in historical and ethnic ceremony is reflected in the many forms the fire event takes as the years go by. Sometimes an air of carnival pervades and at other times, an almost ancient atmosphere of pagan celebration fills the valley. It takes place in the evening of the last day of the festival and usually signifies the passing of the old year and the rising of the new from the ashes. 

A team of over 100 volunteers start arriving many weeks before the event and toil virtually non-stop right up to the last day to build the fire sculpture and all the many fascinating mobile extras. Also included in the performance are the many volunteers from the public who attend workshops during the festival to help build these structures and then participate in the parade at the start of the event. A choir of hundreds, again drawn from the public, practise all week to hone their singing skills for the gala performance. 
 

 

I have been fortunate enough to be one of the "Clay People" for one fire event playing in a marimba band led by Linsey Pollak. Clay people are the folk who perform in the fire event. The clay, which is plastered 100% all over the body adds a wonderfully surreal anonimity to the performers, especially as it turns white when dry, and it also helps to protect against the heat of the fire and the mozzies. 

A great sense of "family" pervades the fire event camp during the preparations and performance and this is largely generated by the the good nature of the fire gurus, Neil & Faridah. After each fire, when the crowd has departed, the family gathers around the slowly dying fire to enjoy the warmth of song and friendship and to clean up the props. As Neil says, "We don't pack up, we burn everything!" All those spectacular paper & cane sculptures, everything!