CENTRAL Coast Council is celebrating its win in the Innovation in Special Events category at the Annual RH Dougherty Awards held for Local Government Week.

The award recognises a special event, produced and owned by a council in the 2015 calendar year, that delivered excellence in fulfilling its objective.

The first Wyong Lakes Festival made a big splash in November, providing a huge nine-day program featuring sporting, family, cultural, educational and live music events on and surrounding the Tuggerah Lakes Catchment area.

When presenting the award for the council's Wyong Lakes Festival, judges said the campaign was an outstanding, innovative event that had a great partnership approach to activating places and spaces as well as generating significant economic returns for the region.

The council's community partnerships and planning manager, Julie Vaughan, was thrilled with the win and said it was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the events staff to make the festival dream a reality.

"We were committed to delivering a festival that showcased the lakes and we certainly delivered, attracting people from the Central Coast and beyond," Ms Vaughan said.

"We had five event hubs set up that were identified as being key locations in activating, educating and celebrating the Tuggerah Lakes system.

"Over the nine days, we held 35 events that promoted our area and provided elements of participation that were free to spectators, with opportunities for others to participate.

"Some of the events included an evening light show on the lake and concert, breakfast by the lake, stand-up paddle boarding competition, skate competition, painting by the lake, art exhibitions, markets stalls, a triathlon and much more."

Wyong Lakes Festival provided options for forging partnerships between community groups, residents, business owners and sponsors to enliven the Tuggerah Lakes system.

This year's Festival runs from November 12-20.