Created by Raym Richards in the Byron Surf club 25 years ago, the Starlight Festival is now run by his daughter Rosie Richards and the festival has flourished into an annual healing festival and expo.
Rosie said the festival is a special and sacred event that brings many locals and visitors together. ‘The Starlight Festival offers a place of conscious living, awakening and sharing of knowledge.
A COVID-Safe festival
This year Rosie had to have a huge COVID-Safe plan for the festival which hosted over 1,200 guests and more 40 local exhibitors.
‘COVID saw lots of changes to the Starlight this year,’ said Rosie. ‘A COVIDSafe plan meant lots of new adaptions to the festival program, how presenters presented and how the exhibitors worked on their stands, and how every participant had to register.
‘This was a big change. I had expected there to be issues and complaints, and understandably so. It’s been a huge logistical exercise. But I have not had one complaint or grumble – people really want this festival to go ahead.
‘The locals stepped up to the challenge and showed their support for this community event by receiving the changes in a positive light and making the call to action.
‘That’s what made it possible to bring yet another Starlight to Bangalow this year.’
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