The South Canterbury International Festival continues to go from strength to strength with crowds numbering in the thousands turning out to sample the food, sights and sounds of the ethnic community.

Festival charitable trust chairman Steve Earnshaw said he didn't have exact numbers because the festival, at Aoraki Polytechnic, did not take gate takings, but 4000 food vouchers had been sold, compared to 3000 last year.

Festival goers use the vouchers to sample ethnic foods, so may have used more than one voucher.

He said the festival was "vibrant and lively, nice and sunny."

Two years ago entry to the festival was by ticket sale, however the cost of the infrastructure required when charging festival goers made it an unviable option.

The desire to have it a truly community event with the aim of creating closer ties with the local ethnic population meant dispensing with the tickets was a wise choice, vindicated by the increased numbers of people attending, he said.

People watched nine international ethnic acts and cooking demonstrations, while exploring the displays.

- The Timaru Herald

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