Shinju Matsuri Festival wraps up

After ten days of celebration, colour, sound and community spirit, the 2015 Shinju Matsuri Festival came to a breathtaking conclusion on Sunday.

With a number of new events, countless organisations and volunteers getting involved and the Broome populace rallying around the cause, the 45th annual carnival was a wholehearted success.

Sammy the Dragon was as eagerly received as ever at the opening ceremony late last month, with the Make Smoking History float parade awash with colour and activity.

The always popular Pearl Meat Cook Off and Opera Soiree got the festival off with a bang the following day.

A number of standout art, cultural, sporting and dance events had the community captivated, while the A View to Asia exhibition at Cable Beach was a celebration of all things Broome.

One of the highlights was the Shinju Art Exhibition at the Broome Civic Centre, with the annual awards held last Tuesday.

Local artist Kate Breckon won the 2015 Shire of Broome Acquisitive Art Prize worth $8,000, with judges Michael Torres, Darrell Sibosado and Lia McKnight full of praise for her piece, Bungarun.

The Floating Lantern event at Gantheaume Point threw up some striking images from the beach, as hundreds of custom-made vessels adorning personalised messages lighting up the ocean as they returned to the shore last Friday.

The Sunset Long Table dinner blended iconic Broome food with an unforgettable location at Cable Beach on Saturday.

The Carnival of the Sea delighted onlookers on Sunday, with smiles firmly on faces as the festival wrapped up with a host of unique local musicians regaling the crowd at the finale.

A stunning fireworks show lit up the sky as the Pigram Brothers played their trademark local songs to a capacity audience at Cable Beach Amphitheatre, wrapping up the festival.

Shinju president Chris Maher said the feedback he had received was overwhelmingly positive.

“I’m really pleased to see and hear how many people are saying that this was the best Shinju Festival we have ever had,” he said.

“I am also happy that the festival went off without a hitch and was well run, which puts us in good stead for the future.”

Mr Maher also highlighted some of the events as standing out.

“The emotion at the Floating Lantern event was clear to see and a real stand out for me,” he said.

“The Sunset Long Table dinner was a world-class event, while seeing the Pigram Brothers play at Cable Beach with fireworks going off in the sky was amazing and spectacular.”