The two-week event wrapped up this weekend with one of the specialty events: highland dancing.

Eisteddfod committee president Deanne Burr said highland dancing was a difficult genre, which was usually only performed in the capital cities, so she was pleased championship dancers of a “fantastic standard” could be involved in conducting a workshop.

“It was fantastic for the regional students because we don’t always get exposure to what’s it’s all about,” she said.

“It’s so inspiring for the little ones.”

Despite limited exposure to the genre, one Albury student did place in the competition, which had a record numbers of entries.

Primary school vocal ensembles, involving more than 600 children from Albury and Wodonga, also took their chance to feature at the eisteddfod on Friday morning.

For some, it was their first time experiencing being on the big stage.

Volunteers who worked hard over the 17-day event will enjoy a break, but break this week, then get straight back to organising the 2018 eisteddfod.

Overall entry numbers rose by 25 per cent on 2016, with music (up 64 per cent) and debating (57 per cent) recording the biggest increases.

”Across the board, all disciplines had an increase in entries,” Ms Burr said

”We have grown a lot this year and the co-ordinators are still talking about growing even more for 2018.”