For many years regional festivals in Queensland have brought together communities to celebrate what makes them unique. At Caboolture they delve into medieval folklore, Cooktown residents re-enact the historic landing of Captain James Cook, in Mt Morgan they honour a mining tradition of drinking beer from a billycan, and the Millmerran community celebrate their bush idyll with the Australian Camp Oven Festival complete with damper throwing.

These festivals are community-driven and around every corner is a local volunteer with a smile and ready hand. Organising committees, stall holders, fundraisers and clean-up crews are all volunteers who join together to celebrate their community. In turn, the festivals boost community pride and businesses benefit from the hundreds of extra customers. Most festivals include fundraising events where not-for-profit groups receive much needed funds.

Local volunteer-run museums also support these community festivals. The Medieval Festival in Caboolture was initiated by the Abbey Museum, the Sarina Historical Society dressed up as the Flintstones in the 2008 Discover Sarina Festival, and the Chinchilla Museum host a poet's breakfast at each Melon Festival.

In 2009, 15 community-run festivals made it onto RACQ's list of '150 Must-Do's in Queensland' with the Gympie Music Muster topping the list at number 8. Festivals have a long history in Queensland where the unique and sometimes quirky facets of our communities are put on show and celebrated.