A black-tie gala ball in a huge marquee erected on Russell Street has attracted hundreds of partygoers to wish Bathurst a happy 200th birthday.

That will be followed by tomorrow night’s launch of the third and final instalment of the Illuminate Bathurst festival with five CBD sights to again be lit up each night for the next week or so.

While the first two Illuminate festivals in March and July looked at Bathurst’s past and present, this final instalment has a future theme, and that’s quite appropriate as we approach the end of 2015.

Bathurst Regional Council should be applauded for the sheer breadth of events it has organised and supported throughout the bicentenary year and, in particular, its efforts to find something to appeal to all sectors of society.

But it would be a shame for all the goodwill and momentum created this year to be lost next year. 

Rather, we need to now be thinking about what the legacy of the bicentenary might be.

A repeat of July’s winter festival is a must.

For too long, Bathurst has hibernated through the winter months, but that all changed this year.

Hardy crowds flocked to the festival launch night and feasted on local food and wine, while the special ice rink set up in Kings Parade was booked out throughout the week.

The region has shown a willingness to support major community events even in the depths of winter and it is to be hoped the festival will be back bigger and better in 2016. 

And tonight’s ball could also prove to be the first of many.

Bathurst has a chequered past in hosting black tie balls, with both the traditional V8 and Gold Crown balls struggling for numbers in recent years.

But wouldn’t it be great to see that impressive marquee return each year during Race Week as an annual reminder of our bicentenary.

Of course, it comes down to continuing support, so the community will ultimately decide its future viability.

But having started the party across the Bathurst region, none of us is quite ready to call it a night just yet.