CARNIVAL fever took hold across the City of Wyndham as thousands celebrated Weerama over the weekend.

The Werribee Racecourse was awash with colour and festive cheer for the first time in years.

Festival director Wayne Carson said the event was staged at the course to revamp the format.

“It was a big challenge being something new, we had to work around the track which made the situation difficult,” he said.

“We did not have a lot of grass area to use.”

Mr Carson did not rule out holding the event at the racecourse again instead of the main street.

But he said changes would have to be made to the line-up. More than 40,000 people came to celebrate in the perfect weather conditions.

“It was a fantastic atmosphere and there was something for all ages,” Mr Carson said.

Children spent their time mingling in the animal farm, face painting and on the jumping castle while teens were found on rides and at the skate ramp. The stands were full as the fireworks display lit up the sky.

Wyndham’s multicultural diversity also cast colourful shadow across the municipality.

There were back to back dance performances and a smorgasbord of delicacies from around the globe.