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It boasts more than 400 performances from 150 national and international acts, but members of the Illawarra Folk Festival community say the weekend is about more - much more - than just the music.
"It's not all about big acts on big stages. It's the community of people who come here," said artistic director David De Santi.
"There's a sense of ownership of the festival by people who come here. People plan their whole year around this weekend."
Festivalgoers travel from miles around, from interstate and overseas for the long weekend of folk.
Music, stages and stalls physically take over Bulli showground, but a more ethereal, spiritual sense of community and friendship settles upon the entire town.
"It is as close to family as you can get without living together," laughed John Broomhall. A veteran of 24 festivals, he has watched the festival grow from humble beginnings in Jamberoo to the four-day behemoth it now is.
"It's a growing family and festival. We see Bulli come together, because it's their festival and community."
It only took one day for Melbourne act The Raglins to get first-hand experience of that community spirit.
"I ate in a cafe yesterday, and when I went past again today, they remembered and waved," laughed singer Hannah Pelka-Caven.
"It's great to see a community support folk, we don't have it like this in Melbourne. We taught a workshop on Wednesday and kids really like this music. It's unusual but awesome."
A glance around the grounds found a plethora of younger fans - small kids with parents, teenagers in volunteer vests, 20-somethings in tie-dye. Again, more than music draws younger audiences to the festival.
"Most of the folkies are older, 60 or 70, so it's a changing of the hands now," said Dom Flemons. It is his second Illawarra Folk Festival, the American bluesman first coming as a volunteer in 2013.
"It's important for young people to come and see what's here. People are sometimes surprised at what they enjoy. We need to put experiences out there, let people see and decide for themselves."
Despite a Grammy to his name, and having that name as one of the festival's headline attractions, Flemons spent the weekend trying to blend into the background. He walked through the crowds, sat in general admission areas, and happily chatted to anyone who approached him.
"Folk music isn't about being a rock star or making millions of dollars. The idea is to be accessible," he said.
"Folk is the music of the people and the proletariat. If people like my music, I'd like to meet them. If I can maybe inspire someone to carry on this music, then my job is done."