MANY messages of support and thank-you cards have been flooding into the Okehampton OK! office following the highly successful Okehampton Arts and Music Festival.
'Even before Party in the Park had finished, a note was pushed through the office door saying what a great time people were having,' said festival treasurer Sidney Thompson.
Mayor of Okehampton Christine Marsh has added her praise: 'It was brilliant. I went to everything in the evening I could go to and it was all excellent.
'All the pessimists out there who said it was over-ambitious have been proved wrong. The organisers did a terrific job.'
The festival committee are 'thrilled to bits' with the support that was shown by sponsors and local people during festival week.
'Residents voted with their feet and turned out night after night to see the range of quality musicians, performers and exhibitions,' said festival secretary Mandy Kenyon.
'Everyone had their favourite event. Mine was the tea dance held at the Charter Hall. The professional tea dance band led by Tony Marshall really got everyone tapping their feet and dancing.'
Festival chairman Alan King expressed his thanks to everyone who had bought tickets. He was especially pleased with attendances for events such as the Georgie Fame concert and Puppetcraft.
'Okehampton really showed its true colours during festival week — seeing friends and neighbours out having a good time is what this festival is all about and makes all the hard work worthwhile, ' he said.
The committee is now hard at work totting up the final ticket receipts and starting to think about next year.
'There is no question that we have to do it again,' added Mr King. 'But to make next year even better we need more people on board.
'We want people to put forward their ideas, suggestions and themselves.'