The event will now be held on October 2, 2022, the Irish Woolfest Committee announced last week, following "careful consideration and consultation with local businesses".

"Due to COVID-19 the Irish Woolfest has been cancelled for the past two years," the committee said in a statement.

"The committee elected to celebrate the Irish Woolfest on St Patrick's Weekend. This decision was made to encourage an influx of visitors and economic stimulus to the Hilltops Region, specifically Boorowa, earlier in the year.

"However, the committee recognises that the Irish Woolfest is traditionally associated with the October long weekend and many visitors and locals have this date ingrained in their minds and calendars.

"The committee also know that the long weekend will allow for an increase of visitors over a longer period, therefore encouraging tourists to visit multiple sites within the Hilltops Region."

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Boorowa Business Chamber (BBC) President, Angus Mitchell said the chamber and businesses in Boorowa were pleased with the change back to the traditional date.

"The majority of businesses weren't overly happy about it being held in March for just one day," he said.

"The businesses preferred the three to four days activity rather than just the single day."

According to Mr Mitchell, holding the Irish Woolfest in March also had the potential to impact other events run in the same month, such as the Boorowa Show and International Women's Day.

He said the October long weekend will allow for a better spread of events throughout the year for Boorowa and the wider Hilltops region.

"We didn't see people coming to Boorowa three times in one month... Then the rest of the year is relatively quiet except for the Cars on the Green," he said.

"We were also quite keen to see that the rest of Hilltops benefit from the long weekend in October because people use Boorowa as a base, or they use Young or Harden as a base.

"Woolfest provides upwards of 4000 people attending... all accommodation is booked out for two or three days. Cafes, restaurants, the pubs meals, everybody gets a considerable benefit from it.

"We all appreciate the amount of time that goes into Woolfest by the committee and council staff and it is our annual event which brings people to Boorowa in droves."

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