Line dancing has become one of the greatest attractions of the Bluewater Country Music Festival.
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The festival now sees upwards of 400 line dancers hit Port Stephens for four days of workshops and socials.
“It just gets bigger every year,” Margaret Taylor from the Blue Water Line Dancers said.
“There are so many visiting groups now, and so many friendships been formed over the years.
“Each year we visit the groups that visit us for this weekend.”
A group from Ulladulla make the Bluewater festival their “Tamworth”.
“It’s good to catch up with people from afar,” Blue Water Line Dancer Lorraine McKay said.
“It’s like a big reunion.”
Blue Water, the Bay Bootscooters, from Port Stephens, and Kickin' Country, from Newcastle, are the host groups for the festival.
The Blue Water line dancers started their festival on Wednesday night.
Dancers did a demonstration at the official launch of the festival at Broughtons at the Bay in Nelson Bay.
The club will host the first social of the weekend at Soldiers Point Bowling Club on Friday night.
Mrs Taylor, who has danced in every festival since its inception in 2006, said she had more than 140 bookings for the social so far, but expected more to arrive on the night.
“It's a great night,” she said. “It's the start of the festival, so everyone is full of energy.”
Workshops and socials will be held at Wests Nelson Bay Diggers on Saturday and Sunday – starting 9.30am and running through to 4pm.
The weekend will end with a festival tradition – the longest line dance. This is not just for line dancers, but anyone who wants to join in on the fun.
A line will be formed at d'Albora Marinas shortly before 10am on Monday and a small line dance will be done.
The cost is a gold coin to take part in the longest line dance, which is donated to charity.
In addition to these activities, Bay Bootscooters and Coastal Bootscooters will hold demonstrations at Salamander Bay Shopping Centre throughout the weekend.
