With Ironfest celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Lithgow resident Glenda Phipps is also celebrating 20 years of performing at the annual event.
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Glenda first got involved when creator Macgregor Ross approached her to say they were having a market day and asked if she would like to come and busk.
"So I came and busked and there were 10 street stalls so it was successful," she said.
This continued the following year when she was approached again to see if she would like to perform.
"This time I got a troupe of belly dancers together and we practised to put on a big show," she said.
"We were Lithgow's first belly dancing troupe and we got so big we had to move to a gym to fit us all in."
The group performed again in Ironfest's third year.
In the event's forth year Glenda helped form a band called 'The Wandering Minstrels' and they performed at the State Mine Museum for the event on a big pirate ship.
"After that the event got so big that it got moved down to the showground," she said.
Glenda continued to perform at the next 16 Ironfest events, with her 'Wandering Minstrels' group.
"The only change we had was changing the name from the Wandering Minstrels to the Stoney Broke Band and our main job is Ironfest and performing at charity events around town," she said.
"We walk around and sing, we find a place on the oval to join in, and we also go in the parade, it's very exciting."
Glenda said she is excited for this year's theme 'Once Upon A Time' and would be going dressed as a queen.
"Since it is my 20th anniversary of attending I thought I would dress as Queen of the West," she said.
Glenda secured her costume from an antique store, and will be wearing a long red and gold coat that came from the Australian Opera.
"It goes well since my family is so musical," she said.
Glenda also performs with the Lithgow City Band, which was her 2018 highlight.
"We were sitting near the oval playing the theme song from Pirates of the Caribbean and I was playing the drums and next minute there was this big cannon going off," she said.
"Playing the drums with cannons, it felt like we were on a big pirate ship."
According to Glenda the biggest change the event had was getting the space down at the showground.
"The oval gives more choices, there is more space for displays, exhibitions and events, and it allows us to achieve so much more," she said.
Glenda urged people who didn't think they would be able to afford the event to try and save up because it was worthwhile.
"There is so much to see and do, people are all dressed up in the most amazing costumes, the stalls, the medieval people who live there in the tents, there are all these ecosystems at the event," she said.
"People said it would never get off the ground and now it's bigger then ever."
Glenda said the freedom of the whole event was what she loved the most.
"Anyone can be anybody they want to be, it's like walking into a big fairy tale and who doesn't love a fairy tale?" she said.
"It's a place where anything goes and no one will be judged on what they're wearing."
Glenda said she usually has three or four friends come from Sydney every year just for the event.
"It's a big family, Ironfest is, my kids and grand kids also come, they love seeing the knights in shining armour riding on horses," she said.
With between 15 and 20 thousand people passing through the gates over the weekend, Glenda said the camaraderie you felt was fantastic.
"The reason I've dedicated my time to supporting Ironfest and the committee is because people really appreciate the effort we put in with the band and they appreciate us being there," she said.
"I will keep going to the event until I can do it no longer."
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