Saturday morning’s markets and performances were very popular with many stalls on show in the Basketball Pavilion, CWA Ladies providing delicious morning teas, and various other traders plying their wares outside. Special guests were Sisters of Mercy from Goulburn, Sister Ursula and Sister Gabrielle, with Fr Bill Kennedy from Canberra. Mary Gilmore's best friends were the Sisters of Mercy and she left first print editions of all of her books to them. They are kept in the Catholic archives in Canberra. Amanda Evans, representing the Reserve Bank of Australia, was present to promote the new $10 note featuring Dame Mary Gilmore's portrait. 

Entertaining at the markets were Maggie Somerville (a singer who transposes Mary Gilmore's poetry to song) and Stephen Whiteside (poet and singer, president of C.J. Dennis Society) of Melbourne. They performed alongside local artists who sang items from the new Mary Gilmore CD Vol. 6 which officially went on sale at the weekend.  Isla and Ari Stephenson, Margaret Hudson, Dallas Atkins and India-Rose Toll were amongst those who entertained at the markets with tracks from the CD.

A photographic exhibition was mounted in the Dome Pavilion alongside a display of Mary Gilmore information by the Crookwell Historical Society. Crookwell Library had a display of Australian authors' works on show.

Saturday afternoon's Performing Youth Showcase drew a large crowd with students from the high school and the local primary schools exhibiting outstanding talent with vocal, poetry and instrumental items. Competent emcees were Emily Secomb and Misha O'Brien, Year 8 students from Crookwell High School.

Organisers thank Mr Brian Hudson, Mrs Donna Woolley, Mrs Gillian McCann and KAOS directors Sandra Bill and Rhonda Cummins for their encouragement and support of the district's young performers.  Sound engineer Stephen Lindsay of Oceanic Records provided invaluable technical help for the entertainers.

Patron for Performing Youth, Mr David Johnson rounded out the concert by awarding certificates to all performers and gave a very encouraging speech for the young people. What a fantastic amount of talented youth we have here! The variety, confidence and expertise gave the large audience a real treat... well done to all who participated.

A huge hit with the public was the concert that night by 40 very accomplished members of the Southern Lights Vocal Academy from Dapto who entertained with items ranging from popular to blues, and movies to musical theatre. Such a wide range showed the ability and versatility of the performers who had at least six changes of costume and were aged from 12 years to seniors. The concert items were interspersed with the interesting story of Dame Mary Gilmore's colourful life.

The festival concluded on Sunday with a barbecue breakfast and the most enjoyable Poets and Balladeers’ session. Performers in the line-up included poets, singers, story-tellers and raconteurs including Laurie McDonald of Canberra and Stephen Whiteside as comperes.

Winners of the raffle were Elaine Plumb (photos donated by Paul Anderson), Brian Kennedy (framed original artwork from Mary Gilmore Society) and Rob West (set of Dallas Atkins CDs).

The Crookwell Mary Gilmore Society is grateful to now be a sub-committee of the AP&H Society and thanks Paul Anderson for his assistance. Sincere thanks are extended to sponsors: the AP&H Society, Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Anderson's Real Estate, Davies' Newsagency, Laggan Bush Poets' Group, Criterion Hotel and Willowtree Sculpture Garden.

All-in-all it was a wonderful weekend for celebrating one of Australia's treasures ... Dame Mary Gilmore!