What a difference a blue sky makes.
Warm and clear conditions encouraged large numbers to this year’s Rhododendron Festival in Blackheath on Saturday.
While early high winds forced organisers to abandon the climbing wall and bungee jump, conditions settled during the day.
The grand parade was popular as ever, led by the new princess, Amy Antaw.
The Friends of Blackheath Pool group generated extra cheers with their sign thanking the local engineers who have helped save the two smaller pools from threatened closure.
Numbers at the pool itself (free entry on Rhodo Day) were so high council had to send an additional staff member to help supervise.
In Blackheath Gardens, there were stalls selling colourful clothes, bags and jewellery, ornaments, placemats and plants.
For the hungry, there was a range of food and no fewer than four sausage sizzles!
The art show was well attended and the entertainment tent in Govetts Leap Road mostly full, particularly when the drummers from Rhythmstix came on.
Coal shovelling and roof bolting talents were on display in the Gardners Inn, while the Ivanhoe hosted the woodchopping, as well as music and dance from the Lithgow Highland Pipe Band.
