More than 10,000 attended events throughout Moray as part of a six-day arts extravaganza.
A total of 125 performances were held across the west of the region as part of the third Findhorn Bay Festival, which closed on Monday.
About 4,500 tickets were sold during the week while a further 6,000 people attended free events and exhibitions – about a third of whom travelled to the area specifically for the shows.
The visitor numbers represent a significant increase on the 7,500 that attended the 2016 version of the biennial event.
Festival director Kresanna Aigner said work was already underway on the next festival, which will take place in September 2020.
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She said: “The six days were wonderful. It’s been fantastic to welcome so many visitors from near and far.
“Many people have commented that this year’s festival has had ‘something for everyone’ and it’s been great to see our local community embracing arts and cultural events on their own doorsteps.
“An event of this kind also opens opportunity, with many new connections being made between artists, audiences, local businesses and visitors – connections which will deepen over time.”
The weekend’s Culture Day in Forres proved the most popular event of the week with organisers estimating that more than 3,500 people packed the town centre to celebrate local food and crafts.
Meanwhile, world premiere stage performances of the Buke of the Howlat at Brodie Castle were among the 32 concerts and shows that sold out, including appearances from musicians Duncan Chisholm, the Karine Polwart Trio and Northern Flyway.
Tours around some of Moray’s art studios on a 1960s vintage bus also proved to be one of the festival’s biggest hits.
Organisers are now preparing a report on the event to fully assess the impact it had across the whole community.
Mrs Aigner added: “A festival of this scale can only happen by working in partnership and in collaboration with local businesses and community groups.”
