"PICK up the mail from Surat and take it to Yuleba.”

Those were the simple instructions two local families received when they boarded the coach driven by horseman Don Ross and cheered on by the Surat community, embarking as part of the Cobb and Co festival at the weekend.

The situation escalated quickly as the coach was held up by the CrackUp Sisters and water pistol-slinging bushrangers.

Will Frith, father of one of the families on board, said it was one of the more comical trips he had taken.

"The kids put up a fight, throwing left and rights holding on to most of the gold,” he said.

"Unfortunately for the bushrangers, by the time they caught up to us, the kids had eaten most of the gold coins.”

The charade was part of many festival firsts, including a bullock team visiting towns around the region, a long table dinner, popular country musician Tania Kernaghan performing live, and Yuleba becoming a theatre set for a night, hosting the live action Drama in the Street.

Grandfather Jim Wilby, who was riding on top of the coach, said the Cobb and Co festival was tremendous.

"It's a great thing for the town, there is a lot of local history to be taught and it's great everyone is embracing it,” he said.

"On Friday night the Surat State School choir got up on stage and sang I am Australian with Tania Kernaghan, that's something they'll never forget.”

The festival was spread across nine days from August 17-25, triple its usual duration, and organiser Paul Masson said the 95th anniversary was a huge success.

"It was fantastic,” he said.

"Everything went really well, all the feedback has been positive and everyone is excited for the centenary.”

Final numbers are still to be confirmed, however Mr Masson said the crowds thrived in each town when you took into account those from all the schools, aged-care homes and foreign visitors.

"We had 31 carriages, 90 horse riders and the Cobb and Co coach passing through each town,” he said.

"To put it in perspective, Friday night in Surat, the Gun Club sold 600 steaks.

"It was fantastic for the town. Surat is a mecca for grey nomads but it just swelled, the markets were terrific that drew a large crowd and what's more people hanged around for the whole week.

"Visitors are still in Yuleba as we speak.”

Mr Masson said the event would not possible without the volunteers.

"Thank you to all the volunteers and community groups that have supported the event, it would have been impossible without you,” he said.

"From the people who delivered the food, to the pilot vehicles, the bushrangers and all our sponsors, we are extremely grateful for your support.

"The Maranoa Regional Council have been fantastic, as well as all the local gas companies.

"People enjoy the show but there are a lot of people involved behind the scenes that get it off the ground, both committee members and volunteers.”

At the end of the festival, Mr Masson said, rest assured, the mail made it to Yuleba.

"People posted mail in Surat from all over the eastern seaboard of Australia and even one couple from New Zealand,” he said.

"The festival has not only been a great boost economically but it has also put us on the map.

"People have already told us they will be back in five years.”