The 50th annual Festival of the Maples is being hailed as the largest and most successful in the event’s history, with thousands packing downtown Perth on Saturday for a day filled with music, food, entertainment and community pride.
Organizers say the milestone event built on five decades of tradition while adding new features that made this year stand out.
Perth and District Chamber of Commerce President Adib El-Khoury said the scale of the festival and the energy in the streets reflected the strength of community support.
El-Khoury credited the festival’s volunteers for helping drive that success, saying the event would not happen without the committee and the many extra hands brought in to support the day.
This year featured three stages for the first time to mark the 50th anniversary, along with wandering performers, a lumberjack show, vendors and family attractions that kept crowds moving through the downtown core all day.
El-Khoury also thanked sponsors and artists for helping elevate the festival experience.
The return of the Plaid Dance in support of the Hospice Hub added to the celebration.
Organizers say the massive turnout and overwhelmingly positive response suggest the Festival of the Maples continues to grow stronger with each passing year.
