By Boyd Robertson

Carnivale 2014 has wrapped up with an estimated 25,000 people visiting Port Douglas for the 10-day festival. 

Accommodation venues throughout Port Douglas were booked out with tourists and locals alike turning up to see unique new events like Japanese Yabusame horse archery and a surprise performance by Bernard Fanning. 

Exact visitor numbers are still being calculated but organisers estimate about 8000 people came out to the Macrossan Street parade on May 16 and 5000 people took part in the Family Beach Day at Fourmile Beach on May 17.

An estimated 3,000 people sampled culinary treats during Taste Port Douglas at the Sugar Wharf on Saturday, with easily more than 1,000 checking out the Food, Wine And A Taste of Port event at Rex Smeal Park later that day.

About 4,000 people dug in at the Seafood Extravganza at the Reef Marina boardwalk on Sunday.

Te Ketu was announced the winner of the Port Village Street Art and Music Festival's final on Saturday, with the Kroovs taking out second place and Benny and the Clones on third.

The Yabusame horse archery competition on Fourmile beach was a particular favourite, and also marked the first time an offical competition of the sport has been held outside Japan. 

While the archers came from Japan, the horses were local and trained by Crystal Cascades.

Carnivale general manager Roy Weavers said the Yabasume display had been "an amazing sight" and that the festival overall had been a great success. 

"We know that most accomodation houses were full, so that's about 8,500 rooms filled and about 15,000 guests staying over the 10 days," he said. 

"The Seafood Extravaganza at the Reef Marina was also our biggest ever - for the first time we had the grass area at Fisherman's Wharf opened up and it was packed out. 

"There were easily three or four thousand people there from 10am right up until the fireworks at 6:30."

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Doug Ryan said the stimulus of 25,000 people in town provided a great kickstart to the season. 

“The purpose of Carnivale has always been to bring people to the region in what is typically our shoulder season and act as tool to promote the destination not only in Australia but also internationally," he said.

“Once again we have had a strong contingent of visitation from Cairns and Townsville as well as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

"We see a lot of people return year after year for their favourite events.”