Police have praised the behaviour of punters at Wollongong's Yours & Owls festival at the weekend, saying the event was violence-free.
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However, the same could not be said when it came to drugs at the annual music festival, with officers reporting several people discovered in possession of illicit substances.
"We have had quite a few drug detections, which is always a concern," Wollongong acting police inspector Dave Parker said, adding police were out in force for the duration of the event.
"We've got multiple police dogs here searching, and we've advertised we were going to be doing it, but some festival-goers just aren't taking the hint."
The crowds also earned the praise of NSW Ambulance Illawarra Inspector Norm Rees, who said there were few incidents considering the numbers at the festival.
"Yesterday we only transported eight to the hospital - two or three were drug-related," he said on Sunday.
Mr Rees said ketamine, MDMA and alcohol were the "three majors" with regard to drug use at the festival.
Festival punter Daniel Blomney, 21, from Kiama attended the festival for the first time, and wanted to see Thundamentals and Hot Dub Time Machine.
Mr Blomney said he'd been to a few music festivals in the past, and felt that recent publicity surrounding such events wasn't balanced.
"I feel like as soon as something negative happens, there's so much publicity about it, but the positivity isn't really promoted," he said.
"Like with the Lost Paradise festival, one person overdosed, and it was tragic, but all the positive things from the festival weren't documented."
Although emergency services were kept busy, the majority of the estimated 20,000 people who attended the festival across the weekend enjoyed themselves safely.
Acts featured on the Wollongong bill included Courtney Barnett, Golden Features, Hot Dub Time Machine, Sneaky Sound System, Thundamentals, Vera Blue, Amy Shark and more.
Will Riggert, 20, a student from Bloomington, Indiana is currently studying at the University of Wollongong.
It was his first time attending Yours & Owls, and wore checked stripe overalls, which he bought for $14 online.
"I wore this to another music festival, it's just fun," he said.
"I've worn a mankini a few times too."
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
