In 2005-06, Ms Knight, then aged 14, played her fiddle at a blackboard concert for musical volunteers.
She grew up in Dunedin, and had been told about the event by her then Logan Park High School music teacher John Dodd.
And despite her musical inexperience, she received "a lot of encouragement and support" from fellow musicians on that first visit.
The wheel has since come full circle.
Yesterday she gave a featured workshop for about 20 fellow musicians on American "Old Time Tunes", and performed in a duo with fellow musician Canadian Sean Donald, as the first act at last night’s variety concert in the festival marquee.
Organisers said that since her initial involvement with the festival, she had "followed folk music around the world, playing with legendary band The Eastern and learning fiddle from American masters".
Her journey had now brought her back to Dunedin, where she was ‘‘a huge part of the Whare Flat community and one of our special guests this year’’, organisers said.
Ms Knight (25) said she had initially felt somewhat nervous about yesterday’s fiddle workshop and was well aware she still had a great deal more to learn about music.
She had greatly enjoyed her time as a fiddler with Christchurch-based The Eastern from 2011-13, extensively touring Australia and New Zealand. The Whare Flat festival, at the Waiora Scout Camp, was an attractive mix of music and people, which had contributed to her musical development, and continued to draw her back.
"I just feel that it’s a very enjoyable and friendly time."
And the people side also attracts other festival visitors.
Peter Morgan, of Christchurch, who attended the first Whare Flat festival in 1975, returned this year with his partner Mary Brennan after a break of about 20 years.
"I love the music. The people are great," he said.
