Festival

Over the first weekend in August, Maldon played host to the second Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas. The events were well attended and brought hundreds of visitors into town, many of whom had never visited Maldon before ... "Just like our friends at Dark Mofo, we’ve found the existing business model for Goldfields Gothic doesn’t work in the present environment": Festival Director Valentina Tansley.

The red dust at Barellan is a long way from the sparkling water of a pool but former Olympic swimming champion Shane Gould was taking a keen interest in the sound of a single furrow plough slicing through the clay at the Barellan Good Old Days Festival at the weekend ... She was a keen spectator at the single furrow ploughing completion on Sunday at Barellan, drawing heavy horse and bullock teams.

Known as the biggest gathering of teamsters in the nation, the 2023 Good Old Days Festival drew 6000 visitors for the unique working heritage display of blade shearing, chaff cutting, harvesting, ploughing, log snigging, log obstacle course, shoeing, blacksmithing, butter churning, Furphy rebarrelling, working yard dogs, whip cracking, dog jumping, billy boiling and the Australia Light Horse display.

Murtoa’s Big Weekend will bring the region new and exciting elements in the 3-day event during October 6 to 8, 2023. A stunning line-up will offer the local community and visitors to Murtoa an opportunity to come together and enjoy a large variety of features to suit every age. 

Will Hunter. A lack of volunteers has spelled the end for a major staple of the Copper Coast New Year’s Eve celebrations. The event held at the Wallaroo jetty — consisting of amusement rides and food vendors — will not run this year following the disbanding of the CCNYE committee.

“The Australian Musical Theatre Festival was developed to bring a cultural festival to our state’s north during winter, and it is now an established feature of our annual events calendar,” Minister Street said.

Enjoy live music, food and drink and brightly lit displays of the tulips which offer a wonderfully different perspective to the day time tulip time garden display ... It’s a lovely community vibe which will also have a number of visitors to the Southern Highlands region due to the Festival being held over the long weekend. 

This is the 20th year that we have enjoyed seeing stunning tulips bloom in Bendigo! Our Parks staff have again created a beautiful display that features an assortment of colours and sizes, with around 25 varieties on show.

Pam Jewson. Earlier this year, an estimated 1,000 people attended the Maldon Twilight Festival. On the back of the success … the intention is to make this a permanent two-day event on the Maldon calendar … To keep the event viable, we need to think smarter and make the load on the few easier.

Bullockies from around Australia will compete for the prestigious Teamsters Trophy while goats in harness will vie for the inaugural Little Teamsters Trophy at the 2023 Good Old Days Festival at Barellan in southern NSW on September 30 - October 1. The festival is the nation’s largest gathering of draught animals working in harness as they did on Australian farms over a century ago.

Cuttlefest has proven a success again this year, with more than 10,000 people from across the globe enjoying the natural spectacle and associated events! Themed around the return of the Cuttlefish to Spencer Gulf waters, Cuttlefest provided an abundance of opportunities and experiences from May to August.

Felicity Howard. The reach of the Kangaroo Art Auction which closed on Monday 31 July as part of the Maldon Inc Maldon In Winter Festival, was far and wide ... The lovely June Kiff of Reservoir Melbourne was the highest bidder of ‘Goldie’ created by the Mount Alexander Girl Guides.

New Yorke Peninsula arts festival GROUNDED kicked off in emphatic style with an official opening and awards night at the Brentwood Community Hall on Friday, August 11. People packed into the hall to begin nine days of open exhibitions, workshops, performances and interactive activities across the peninsula.

The Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas – in only its second incarnation - has already taken its place alongside the Easter Fair, the Folk Festival, Maldon in Winter and others as a not-to-be-missed event on the calendar. The weather is always a factor, and this year it began on a gloomy Friday, cleared on Saturday and ended in glorious sunshine on Sunday.

With a legendary lineup of Australian talent, featuring James Reyne, The Beautiful Girls, Kingswood, Dragon, Ash Grunwald, Sunny Coast Rude Boys & more, KickAss Festival have announced the addition of another Australian mainstay, with iconic rock band The Choirboys joining the lineup. With 3 x ARIA Top 30 charting albums between 1983-1991, The Choirboys amassed a cult-like following of adoring fans, with 1987’s single ‘Run To Paradise’ a track reminisced by audiences of all ages, even today.

The dusty outback town of Tennant Creek came alive with vibrant colours, captivating melodies, and infectious energy during the 2023 Desert Harmony Festival - Kunjuku, Anyinginyi Jangarlki Kapi Kaminya Palpuru (Respect, Identity and Healing).

Held as part of the annual Laidley Spring Festival, Bee Happy Day is a free family-friendly event that showcases the magic of bees and the important role they play in our ecosystem ... One of the highlights of the morning will be a special theatrical performance called A Bee Story, featuring artists from Brisbane’s Cluster Arts.

Thoughts are turning to the return of Spring in Wingecarribee with Tulip Time Tickets now on sale. Entry to the daytime event is free for residents who need only book tickets to see Tulips After Dark.

In the 1980s, Iconic Australian synth-pop band Real Life earned widespread recognition and international success with their 1983 chart-topping synth-pop single 'Send Me an Angel'. And next Saturday 5 August, you have the chance to hear them perform live as part of the Goldfields Gothic Festival.

Jewellers, buyers, wholesalers, miners, rock hounds, lapidary enthusiasts and tourists are invited to experience the best Lightning Ridge has to offer with this culmination of information, spectacular jewellery, collectables, great deals and fantastic networking opportunities. The LR Opal & GemFestival boasts over 150 stalls with a huge range of products including gemstones, tools, lapidary supplies and lifestyle products.

During Jumpers & Jazz in July – Allora is turning on its own display and everyone is welcome to join in the fun ... The Allora Museum will take you back in time with a beautiful collection of bridal wear from 1890’s to 1960’s ... Allora Arts & Craft Ladies ... Look around Allora - take the fascinating Town Tour ...

The ambitious design for the Mallanganee Lookout has been shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival in the Future Projects category ... The description on the festival website says “Mallanganee Lookout is an iconic destination – a place that has the centre of the galaxy crossing overhead”.