Eden Whale Festival committee member Tracey Campbell said there would be a lot of different things introduced this year.

Market stalls, wood chopping, bubble soccer, rides and amusements including fireworks are some of the things to look forward to at this year’s festival. 

As the festival is free to enter, the committee needs to raise upwards of $50,000 for expenses.

“For example – It’s $3000 to run the wood chopping event and the fireworks are $5000,” Ms Campbell said.

Ms Campbell said last year “was the first time we finished the festival not in the red,” and the committee has big plans and hope to achieve a break-even point again. 

Getting fundraising underway was last week’s entrepreneurs night showcasing local home-based businesses, while the committee is also in the process of sending letters out to potential sponsors.

“Everything comes at a cost, but it is pretty exciting once it gets going,” Ms Campbell said. 

​Meanwhile, on the whale watching scene, new owners Lana and Brad Wills of Cat Balou Eden are gearing up for their first season on the water alongside the giants of the sea.

“There isn’t much action this time of year as the pregnant mothers are on a mission, taking the most direct route up north to the warmer waters to have their babies,” Ms Wills said.

“There have been a couple of sightings up the coast, but it is just starting. From now on it will be building.”

The best time to catch some whale action is September through November, Ms Wills said.

“As they migrate back to the Antarctic they travel slower and tend to stay closer in because they have their young with them.”