Narromine, a rural Australian town 430km north-west of Sydney, transformed into 'Dollymine' for its fifth annual Dolly Parton festival. The event saw a record 1,600 tickets sold, which is nearly half of Narromine's population.
This year's festival holds particular significance as it is the first since Dolly Parton's death in August. Attendees, including drag queens and super fans, gathered on a sporting oval for activities such as a best-dressed Dolly competition.
The festival's origins trace back to a community effort to revitalise Narromine after a devastating drought from 2017 to 2019, followed by delays due to Covid-19. Organisers aimed to create an event that would support the community and put the small town on the map.
The town's main street was decorated with pink, rhinestones, and butterflies, featuring Parton's image on shopfronts and merchandise. Performances included line dancers, drag queens, and local primary school children.