Stuart Pearson, who was behind the idea, said he is ecstatic with the way the festival has been embraced.

He said because it was the first time the cultural festival had been held, know one really knew if it would work.

"I hoped it would work, I believed it would work, but you don't know until you try it," he said.

The idea for a festival was born some time ago.

"They were spending a lot of time, money and effort to upgrade the carillon here in Bathurst to be a world class carillon and we decided to find out how many of them are there in Australia and what can we do with it?

He said the question was should we spend money upgrading the carillon and leave alone for prosperity or should we use it for some purpose.

"What we found out, this carillon is the only one in regional and rural Australia I've said it many times before, but it needs to be said a few more times to sink in.

"There are only three carillons in Australia, the other two are in capital cities, in Sydney, and in Canberra.

"We are absolutely unique in that there is no other carillon in regional or rural Australia and because they are so hideously expensive to build unlikely there will be any more."

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He said thanks to the foresight of the city's forefathers Bathurst has been left with an amazing legacy.

"Here is the legacy they left us.. why not use it to attract people and visitors to the city," he said.

"This is a civic centre people love to come to. This city needs to have a heart, and right here, is the heart," he said.

Mr Pearson said over three months, a program was developed involving 200 participants including carillonists and performers, choirs, harpists, bands, pipe bands and orchestras, performing over the two-and-a-half days.

This event was assisted by 50 volunteers from Rotary, as well as the Bathurst Historical Society and Bathurst family History Group.

"People have jumped in from everywhere and said what can we do to make this happen," he said.

"In the-two-and-a-half days and five sessions we've had here we have had 2,000 people attend.

"Of those 2,000 over 45 per cent of people have come from outside region, Orange, Cowra, Mudgee and more importantly Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

"People are coming over the mountains because of this iconic instrument and the fact we are putting on a festival. That is economic development, that is a tourist attraction" he said.

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