A PIRATE, vampire, surgeon, human-sized ketchup bottle and a "Cereal Murderer" were spotted at Bowral's Bradman Museum on Friday night.
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The 2014 Southern Highlands Writers' Festival (SHWF) began with a bang as a booked-out audience attended the Fest Factor talent quest.
Highlanders and visitors dressed up for the night under the event's theme of "Blood".
Highlights included Bowral's Robert Chalmers taking on the character of a "Cereal Murderer".
Host Nick Rheinberger kept everyone entertained while judges James Norton, Sarah Dowland and Jon Collins were happy to show their quirky side.
Writers, poets, musicians and singer/songwriters were among the contenders in the talent quest, with the rules stating they had to deliver an original piece under the theme of "Blood"
While the majority of talent came from the Highlands, Sydney's Annie Eyres was declared the winner with a riddle.
Annie wins a one-week retreat at The Coach House, Bowral. The prize is valued at $5000.
SHWF director Michaela Bolzan said Fest Factor was fantastic.
"It was an amazing opening," she said.
"You couldn't have wanted a better start."
The Southern Highlands Writers' Festival continues at Bradman on Saturday and Sunday.
