The popular Woodford Folk Festival will return to its former glory after a testing two years of COVID outbreaks and restrictions.
More than 400 organisers, stallholders, and volunteers held a meeting at the weekend to decide the future of the December event, which typically attracted more than 25,000 people a day before the pandemic.
Festival founder Bill Hauritz said "enthusiasm was strong" at the meeting.
The festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, with a scaled-back version held last December.
Bushtime was limited to 2,200 attendees.
Six people became infected with COVID while staying in the festival village, forcing organisers to bring in extra masks and rapid antigen tests.
Mr Hauritz said he was looking forward to having everything "back to normal".
"There's no COVID rules that apply to us at this moment in time," Mr Hauritz said.
"Of course, things could change, so we always follow the guidelines, the laws of the land, whatever they be at the time, but I think we're seeing the slow dissipation of COVID.
"We think by Christmas time, we should be in the clear."
'Keen as mustard'
Woodford's population of about 5,600 people balloons during the festival, which hosts more than 25,000 patrons, performers, stallholders and volunteers a day.
Karen McBride is the citizenship manager at Woodfordia.
She helps coordinates up to 3,000 volunteers on the site each year, who make up about 90 per cent of the festival's workforce.
"It's so exciting and heart-warming," Ms McBride said.
"We've done Bushtime, we've done other things while Woodford Folk Festival is on hiatus.
"But I think everyone is similar to us staff — champing at the bit to get back to it."
'Like another world'
Local performers like Andrea Kirwin have also welcomed the news.
Kirwin, a singer-songwriter and music producer based on the Sunshine Coast, said it was a "huge event" on the Queensland and Australian festival calendar.
"I've played there quite a few times," Kirwin said.
She said the announcement was "very positive" for anyone in the arts and entertainment industry.
"Because we definitely have been hit hard the last few years ," Kirwin said.
In December, the state government pledged $4 million over four years to help the festival recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
At the time of the announcement, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Woodfordia held a "special place" in the hearts of Queenslanders.
"It's a great festival that has delivered ongoing social, cultural, and economic benefits to Queensland," Mr Miles said.
