The Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering has been nominated as a finalist in the national Australian Folk Music Awards for the Community and Cultural Project of the Year award.

The Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering – held for the first time this year – is the only South Australian nominee in the running for this award, which will be presented at the Nexus Arts Centre in Adelaide on October 14.

Khristian Mizzi, who was a musician at the event this year, is also a finalist for the Solo Artist of the Year award.

The three-day event was a major success earlier this year, with hundreds of people gathering at McCorquindale Park to enjoy a weekend of talented acoustic musicians, workshops and jam sessions.

Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering committee members Anne and Leigh Miller were thrilled the event was nominated for the award.

“Getting it in our first year is really exciting,” Mr Miller said.

“It’s an absolute honour.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed that we win, but even if we do not win, it’s a credit to be nominated and to be a finalist.”

Mr Miller said work was under way on next year’s event, which will return to McCorquindale Park from March 18_20.

Tickets will go on sale in October.