Vanfest Gives You A Glamping Experience While Giving Back To A Flooded Community

It was only in September that the central western NSW town of Forbes was hit by massive flooding, declared a state of emergency and cut off from the rest of the state due to the submerged Newell highway. For this rural community, the loss of tourism revenue - especially during a peak school holiday period - was devastating.

"There was a lot of roads shut, even Dad's business felt the pinch," explains Vanfest organiser Matt Clifton, whose "best mate" and business partner Grant Clifton (aka Matt's Dad, aww), is a Forbes local and owns The Vandenberg Hotel. "A lot of people couldn't get in to town, a lot of people couldn't get out of town, there was no tourism, nobody travelling through," he explains. "[Vanfest] will bring a little bit back. It's a little bit of something, bring a few thousand people into town, we can all benefit from it."

"We've got Australia's biggest inflatable waterslide, zorb soccer field, carnival rides, wine tasting corridors, a big pop-up beach bar."

A few years ago, over drinks in his Dad's pub, Matt - who was working as a nightclub owner and booking bands regularly - and Grant came up with the idea to bring some Sydney bands to Forbes for a gig. "So we did," he laughs. "We sold the pub out in two days!" On the hunt for a "bigger paddock", they found the Forbes Showground "thinking it'd cost maybe 40 or 50 grand to hire it out. We asked them and they came back and said 'You can have it for a week'. I said 'Well, it depends on the money, what is it, $150,000?'" They nabbed a week at the showground for $500.

The inaugural Vanfest featured Matt Corby and Chet Faker on the bill, with "about four and a half thousand people," showing up from around the country. "As each year goes by it gets easier and easier and easier," he explains. The appeal is the journey - a world away from the hot 30-minute bus ride to Olympic Park for a major cookie-cutter festival: "It's boutique, but experience based." "Hanging out with your mates for two days camping... a road trip... We've got Australia's biggest inflatable waterslide, zorb soccer field, carnival rides, wine tasting corridors, a big pop-up beach bar," he enthuses. Plus, Vanfest provides the community with creative opportunities usually reserved for city centres. "We offer all our opening spots and campground spots to up-and-coming musicians. A lot of local acts get up on stage and give it a crack."

Now with the support of Destination NSW and the local council behind them, Clifton is stoked at the support from the town of Forbes itself. "They loved it. There was multiple feedback from store owners, cafes, restaurants in town saying that they do three months worth of trade in one weekend. They all support it and appreciate it and help in any way they can; put posters up, volunteer."

Now it's Clifton's turn to support the community he grew up in. Vanfest organised for a week of ticket sales to contribute $10 from every purchase go towards Forbes. "It was an opportunity for us to give back," he agrees.