Resplendent on their disco bikes, the three-part band from Newcastle grooved their way through the lanes of EPIC, the crowd following Pied Piper like, finding that last bit of energy after five days of partying to party just a little bit more.

In a tent somewhere else visitors who had taken advantage of circus classes over the Easter weekend competed in a Circus Death Match, hosted by Le Petit Circus, with young and old alike showing off juggling and balancing skills and some crazy acrobatics.

Meanwhile 12-year-old Scarlett Manning of Sydney was singing for her supper, or lunch at least, taking advantage of a Busk Stop to sing a soulful rendition of Hallelujah.

Melbourne band Georgia State Line played a relaxed set as people sat around on cushions and under trees taking in a late lunch on a sunny afternoon.

Even on the final day, there's something for everyone at "the National".

Festival director Pam Merrigan expected visitor numbers to hit 47,000, making it one of the most successful festivals yet.

"We provide a great alternative to mainstream popular music culture," Ms Merrigan said.

"Just like people's thirst for organic food has grown so has their thirst for organic music, music that is close to its source."

Ms Merrigan said the program of performers had been well received this year with more than 200 local, national and international acts taking to the many stages.

"We've had a lot of wonderful comments this year about the program, we're really pleased with that," she said.

"We've had many people saying 'How did you get this act to come all the way from Finland?' for example … we've had acts from all over the world, Finland, Denmark, the USA, Ireland.

"On top of all that our wonderful Australian performers and we've had some fantastic Canberra artists here as well.

"It's great to be able to give the locals access to a national audience but also to international promoters and agents. Every year we get feedback from performers who have been contacted and booked by someone who has seen them at the National."

Ms Merrigan said the new traffic management plan had gone off without a hitch despite roadworks for the light rail project closing the main entrance to EPIC.

"We've had a lot of support from Canberra Metro, the ACT government and ACTION Buses in the lead up and over the weekend to make sure everything ran smoothly," she said.

"When you think close to 55 per cent of our visitors are from interstate it's important for us that everything goes well.

"The good thing about our crowd is that they're not precious, if we can get them in and give them a good experience they go home happy."

Sydney photographer Bob Bolton, who has been photographing festivals around Australia since the early 1960s, was awarded the National Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award for his documentation of festival life for more than 50 years. His vast collection has recently been donated to the National Library of Australia.