The latest addition to the Riverland and Mallee’s silo art trail will be celebrated with a special festival this weekend.

Enliven Lameroo will be held in the town’s main street this Sunday 27 April, from 11am to 3pm, coinciding with renowned overseas-based mural artist Sam ‘Smug’ Bates completing work on the western silo.

Bates, who completed the eastern silo in 2024, has been working on his latest Lameroo creation for several weeks, drawing plenty of attention over the Easter long weekend.

This Sunday’s family-friendly event will feature a long list of local catering (including doughnuts, Thai food, pizzas, and a beer/gin bar), plus entertainment.

Nicole McMahon, chair of Lameroo Forward Inc., the group behind the Silo Art initiative, said excitement was growing ahead of the artwork’s completion – and the celebration day this weekend.

“I have heard from numerous residents (and) they couldn’t believe the crowd it drew (over Easter),” Mrs McMahon said.

“We organised pop-up local vans attend over the weekend, with many selling out due to the influx of visitors and locals drawn to the artwork in progress.

“Smug is expected to finish by next Sunday, when Lameroo Forward Inc hosts ‘Enliven Lameroo’, a free community festival.

“We are thrilled with the outcome so far… the transformation it’s creating to our town is more than we could have asked for.”

Lameroo is around an hour south of Loxton.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 23 April 2025.