The crowd in Kings Parade was well down on the 10,000 that packed in for the opening of the first illuminate festival in May, but they all seemed to go away pleased with the experience.

While feedback from the May festival focused on long lines for food and wine and a disappointing light show, Saturday showed that organisers had learnt plenty from those mistakes.

This time round there were more activities for the children and better planned food and wine areas to keep service short and sharp.

And while a broken projector was blamed for a lacklustre Illuminate display in May, there were no such problems on Saturday night as the show went off without a hitch.

Now Bathurst Regional Council must decide whether they have finally struck on a winning formula for an annual family festival, and it's hard to see why not.

Bathurst has traditionally been a reclusive city in winter, but Saturday's festival showed people can be coaxed out into the cold for the right event.

And the winter festival could just get bigger and better from here.

Future festivals could build on the food and wine theme and night markets have also been proposed to broaden the appeal.

And the popularity of the ice rink suggests it could be successful for another year or two as well.

Australia Day in January, the Royal Bathurst Show around April, a winter festival in July, Great Race in October and New Year's Eve Party in the Park in December would provide a great year of family events in our region.

Now the momentum has started, it would be a shame to see it lost.