The 2018 festival will be promoted across NSW after Bathurst Regional Council was awarded $20,000 from the State Government’s 2018 Flagship Event Fund.

Bathurst MP Paul Toole announced the funding on Friday, saying the money would help council to market and promote the big event from July 7-22.

“Since starting in 2015, the Bathurst Winter Festival has kept going from strength-to-strength and has become an important event on the local calendar,” Mr Toole said.

“It draws people to the Bathurst region from near and far and is a real boost to the local economy.

“The State Government’s Flagship Event Fund identifies and assists in the marketing of events that contribute to the unique character of the tourism regions in NSW which demonstrate they can attract overnight visitation.

“I have no doubts this year’s Bathurst Winter Festival will play a role in contributing to the NSW Government’s goal to double overnight visitation expenditure in NSW by 2020.”

Mayor Graeme Hanger welcomed the funding which will be paid through the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

“We warmly welcome the $20,000 which will help promote the Bathurst Winter Festival right across the state,” he said.

“Thousands of people have come to our city over the past couple of years to witness and experience the illuminations, food and wine, entertainment and winter activities with this event emerging as one of the region’s finest attractions during the cooler months.”

Cr Hanger said features of this year’s Bathurst Winter Festival included the return of the winter playground featuring the McDonald’s Bathurst Ice Rink.

“Incorporating the theme ‘Into the Wild’, an array of illuminations will light up the city from sundown to 10pm, along with a ferris wheel and adventure installation,” he said.