The Geltwood Craft Festival made a successful return to Millicent over the weekend after COVID led to its cancellation in 2020 and again last year.

The clue the “craft crew” had arrived in town was the presence of 250 quilts displayed around the Millicent CBD precinct in shops and offices.

Festivities officially got under way on Friday night with the official opening by renowned quilter Rachelle Denneny at the Millicent Gallery.

The 50 in attendance admired her handiwork which lined the walls of the gallery.

The model train exhibition at the Millicent RSL Hall on Saturday and Sunday brought together five model railway layouts for community viewing by hundreds.

It was arranged by the Millicent-based Limestone Coast Model Railway Group.

Among the out-of-town exhibitors was the Reverend Doctor Vern Cracknell, of Adelaide.

His past association with Millicent was as the Methodist minister from 1967-69.

The Lions Family Market Day on Sunday along a closed George Street showcased around 30 local stall holders.

Stall coordinator Alan Rolfe, of the Millicent Lions Club, said several stall-holders had paid their fees but did not trade on the day.

Pleasant spring weather boosted the market day attendance into the many hundreds.

A number of bricks-and-mortar retailers and traders opened their doors but special State Government permission was not sought to allow Millicent’s two regulated supermarkets to trade.

Live music was provided for four hours outside the George Hotel by Mount Gambier entertainers Jason and Christy Wallace.

There were performances outside the courthouse by Hype, Millicent Gymnastics Club, MJ Dance studio and the Millicent Choral Society.

Around 15 members of the congregation of St Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church used the church grounds to provide seating and sell sausages, cool drinks, plants, cakes and bric-a-brac.

A snake handler attracted much interest at the main intersection along with the super-size games arranged by Millicent Girl Guides.

Several classic vehicles were displayed by the Mount Gambier Veteran and Vintage Car Club.

Among the head-turners was a 1970s-era Valiant Charger resplendent in a duck egg blue colour.

The Imagine Millicent Arts Group (IMAG) had a fundraising cocktail party and charity auction at Ignition Fitness on Saturday night with classic pub rock music by JB and Crowey.

Auctioneer Trevor Rayson elicited bids for donated paintings from the 130 in attendance.

The charity auction grossed $3300 and this sum and other proceeds from the night will go towards a mural on the rear courtyard wall of Ignition Fitness

On the following morning, IMAG hosted a Mural and Sculpture Walk through the arts precinct of Millicent.

Across the weekend, there were workshops in such realms as painting, stitching and patch-working.

The Rendelsham Community Hall hosted a Threads and Thimbles exhibition of quilts from the Rendelsham Craft Group’s yearly challenge.

The 2022 challenge was a jelly roll race quilt made from two and a half inch strips of fabric sewn by the short sides then sewn into a quilt from that single long strip.

There was free entry to the Millicent National Trust Museum on Sunday with guides wearing period costume.

Horse-drawn wagon rides around Millicent were another Sunday highlight.

The Geltwood Craft Festival concluded yesterday (Monday) with a Quilting Convention at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.

There was a fashion parade, light entertainment and guest speakers.