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John Head reckons it was ‘‘the cohesion, the vibe’’ at the Emerging Voices Community Event that truly moved people.

Saturday night’s event at Tallis Winery in Dookie attracted almost 2000 people and Mr Head said it more than achieved its goal.

‘‘I was absolutely stunned at the emotional response to it, there were people in tears,’’ the 2013 SheppARTon Festival artistic director said.

‘‘People came up to me and said this was the best event they’d been to — ever.

‘‘I think it was the cohesion, the vibe it created.’’

The Emerging Voice Community Event aimed to share the voices of the Goulburn Valley’s multicultural community.

About 700 local children and their parents carried lanterns around a 4km-long turtle — a Yorta Yorta totem — ploughed into a paddock just below Tallis Winery’s cellar door while Yorta Yorta woman Deborah Cheetham read the story of the long-necked turtle and multicultural choirs performed.

‘‘It was a great success, we had almost 2000 people there,’’ Mr Head said.

‘‘It was a perfect evening for it and the entertainment and the choirs that sung were fantastic.’’

The SheppARTon Festival will continue today with Opera in the Orchard at Findon House, Ardmona.

On Wednesday a free event — Shepparton Short Film Screenings and Talks — will be held at Eastbank from 7pm to 9pm.

The event will show four short films created by local multicultural community members and professional film-makers sharing special moments, diverse cultures and compelling stories from Shepparton’s fascinating migrant history since the 1920s.