Bigger centres would have been looking with envy at the enormous crowds the Harden Kite Festival attracted last weekend in the farming township north-west of Canberra, when its population of 2000 basically quadrupled.

The festival attracted just over 8000 people to the local racecourse - double last year's figures and almost triple those of 2016.

What's more amazing is the event is entirely run by volunteers - and has a committee of just three, all working mums.

President Nicole Scott and fellow committee members Wendy Medway and Julie Dunstan organised the one-day festival while also caring for their families and working.

They were blown away by the response to this year's festival, now in its 13th year.

Local paper The Hilltops Phoenix even noted the festival caused Harden's "first ever traffic jam, with cars lined up in both directions of Burley Griffin Way''.

"I think it's great value but it is something we've been talking about,'' Mrs Dunstan said, of this year's huge crowd.

"We're not sure if it had something to do with the drought and people wanting to support the country. I think it was really well publicised and Canberra radio also picked it up and promoted it.''

Entry is by donation and all profits go back into the following year's event. Mrs Dunstan said the festival might expand into two days to cope with the demand. Better traffic control would also be a priority next year.

Kite flyers came from as far as Newcastle and Ballarat, many staying at the former St Clement's monastery in Galong, now a retreat and conference centre.

"They are very keen to come back,'' Mrs Dunstan said.