The Winter Festival at the National Portrait Gallery on Sunday again proved very popular with ice sculpting, craft, music and a general warm sense of bonhomie against the bleakness outside.
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Adding to the feelgood day was the handover of hand-knitted scarves, beanies, socks and gloves by the gallery, on behalf of knitters across the nation, to St Vincent de Paul Canberra/Goulburn.
The beautiful items will warm the hearts - and bodies - of people in need through the 2016 Vinnies Winter Appeal including the Night Patrol Van.
The appeal went out just over a month ago for people to pull out their knitting needles and crochet hooks and start working on the winter woolies.
Since then, hundreds of donations streamed in from Lyneham through to Darwin.
Local artist Daniel Edwards created a beautiful installation with the woollen garments until they were handed over to Vinnies on Sunday afternoon.
Portrait Gallery education and access manager Krysia Kitch said the festival, now in its third year, was a good way for families to spend time together and also get chatting to strangers, with the festival creating a wonderful sense of organised chaos amongst the clean lines of the gallery.
"It's very much a community event," she said.
