Last year proved to be a world record breaking affair with a successful Guinness World Record attempt for the largest Wobble Board ensemble. 287 people assembled and performed at Emerald Lake Park to better the previous record. Unfortunately the record was short-lived with the English town of Bury gathering 400 wobble-boarders a few months later.

A special feature of this year’s festival included the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold in the Emerald township.

Popular events of the previous festivals returned as well as a number of new activities.

PAVE Festival events in 2008 included:

• The Emerald Arts Society art exhibition held at the Environment Centre at Emerald Lake Park for the duration of the festival
• The Great Wall of Art, outdoor exhibition on the fence outside Emerald Community House.
• The Photography exhibition and competition
• Youth Short Film Festival
• Indigenous story telling
• Historic tour of Emerald including (for the first time) the old bakery site behind the Commonwealth Bank
• Live music
• Living history
• Hip Hop dance demo and lessons
• Huge Family days at Emerald Lake Park and Puffing Billy Park
• Craft and produce Market, Sunday 13th April

Venues include Emerald Lake Park, Local Cafés, Emerald Community House, Elevation, Mechanics Institute Hall, Gemco Hall, Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park, Puffing Billy Park, Emerald Primary School, and the Emerald Library.

The PAVE festival is organised entirely by volunteers and involves numerous Community Groups, working together with one purpose… to bring the streets of Emerald alive and build community strength through the arts.

For Enquiries or to get involved call the Emerald Community House on 5968 3881 or info@pave.org.au. Click EVENTS for a full program or call in at Emerald Community House, 354 Main Rd Emerald during office hours.

PAVE Festival was nominated for Event of the Year in the recent 2008 Australia Day Awards for Cardinia Local Council.

Local businesses are encouraged to become a sponsor in return for generous advertising throughout the event, including radio, press and print materials. Interested parties could contact Dale Blair on 5968 4547 or e-mail sponsor@pave.org.au.