The latest round of changes to NSW's COVID-19 restrictions came at the perfect time for Kurri Kurri's Mulletfest.
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As of last Friday, singing and dancing is permitted at pubs again and density limits have been scrapped.
Mulletfest organiser Laura Johnson said the changes make a huge difference to the event, which runs at the Chelmsford Hotel this weekend.
A world-famous celebration of the iconic haircut, Mulletfest went ahead in 2021 under restrictions at the time including the one person per two-square-metre density limit, and mandatory QR code check-in.
Ms Johnson said the easing of restrictions is a huge relief for the organisers.
"Whilst everybody's safety is of course paramount in running a COVID-friendly event, it means that we can concentrate on putting on a really good show, concentrate on having a really fun time, and concentrate on promoting our causes - which are to educate people about brain cancer and the Mark Hughes Foundation - and just really reminding people to come back together and have fun. I think that that has been so hard to do lately," she said.
"As far as the venue's concerned, with the change and regulations we are still keeping everybody safe, but with that little bit of a relaxation, the costs go down as the compliance goes down, and therefore we are able to offer more, so that's a really good thing. I'm super excited."
The rule changes were also welcomed by Towns With Heart community project manager Jane Fowler in the lead-up to next month's Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival.
Ms Fowler said the return of dancefloors and no crowd limits will allow the festival to return to "pre-COVID" times.
"It means we can go ahead as normal. It will be the first time since 2019 that dancing has been allowed," Ms Fowler said.
The 2020 festival was cancelled just two weeks out due to the onset of the global pandemic, and while last year's event went ahead, dancing was still banned, crowd limits were in place, and severe wet weather the week prior forced the last-minute cancellation of the show 'n' shine (which was to be held at Kurri Kurri Sportsground in order to monitor crowd numbers).
This year's festival will be held from March 25 to 27, with a classic car show, retro marketplace and entertainment in and around Col Brown Rotary Park, and ticketed events at various local venues.
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