Gentle giants delight crowds
Allora was home to the annual Darling Downs Heavy Horse Festival at the weekend. Competitors and spectators arrived from northern New South Wales and western areas of Queensland as well as many from the local region.
fabALICE to bring the razzle dazzle of drag to Alice Springs
The glitz and glamour of drag queens and kings returns to the Red Centre when fabALICE takes over Alice Springs from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 March. fabALICE is a vibrant four-day festival of colour, creativity, celebration and inclusivity featuring talented drag queens and kings...
Guerilla piano in Maldon for Castlemaine Fringe
An underground piano movement is putting donated upright pianos in prominent locations around the shire as part of Castlemaine Fringe Festival, which runs from Friday 21 March until Sunday 6 April. One of the pianos will be plonked at Maldon Bakery and available to be played by the public or in pop-up concerts by ‘Pianists at Large’.
Mali Heart Street Art Festival shines again in Cumming Avenue
For the fourth time, the annual Mali Heart Street Art Festival returned to Birchip on Saturday, bringing together locals and visitors alike for a day of shopping, hospitality, and reconnecting with family and friends along the bustling Main Street.
Honouring two Birchip legends
More than 55 years ago, despite being 6,000 kilometres apart, Birchip residents Frank Hunt and Ray Naughton made history on the very same day. Now, their legacies are forever captured in a mural by artist Matt Hannah.
Kerang Lunar Festival
It has been nine months in the making and all the hard work put in by the Kerang Progress Association has well and truly paid off as the town’s first Lunar New Year Festival took place on Saturday afternoon at Atkinson Park in Kerang.
Home Ground Sounds
The Cohuna Kangas hosted the inaugural Cohuna Home Ground Sounds music festival at Cohuna Recreation Reserve on Sunday and it was a big success ... Special guest artist, Shannon Noll, was a surprise bonus for the festival goers as he performed with his Australian Idol compatriot Rob Mills.
Campers everywhere – except at festival site
They came from all Australian states, and even from overseas. Their destination was the annual Esoteric Music Festival site, north of the Donald township. Sadly, though the weather was ideal, their journey was cut short by several kilometres, when the popular event was cancelled early on its first day, Thursday last.
Decision flattens festival-goers
It’s an event which, annually, has drawn lovers of the Great Outdoors to a location in Victoria’s Buloke Shire. From within the State, and from far beyond, they have travelled to enjoy the music and mateship of Donald’s Esoteric Festival ... Instead, they were walking the streets of the town, prior to leaving to return home without having as much as set foot on their Victorian countryside destination.
Food and Wine better than ever
Madison Eastmond. The Riverland Food and Wine Festival took over the Berri riverfront for the first time in six years last weekend, with the showcase selling out and returning with zero behavioural issues. With tickets completely sold out before the 12noon start-time, the revamped day-long festival focused on local produce, wine, and entertainment that was enjoyed by 1200 Riverlanders.
Festival forges ahead
The decision to issue a planning permit to this year’s Esoteric Festival was made conditionally at Buloke Shire Council’s ordinary meeting held on Monday night in Wycheproof. The Council had announced its decision to deny a ten-year planning permit late last week following health and safety concerns, as well as emergency services regulations.
Core values
Tucked in the picturesque and fertile Harcourt Valley is a hub of apple production and its annual festival is this weekend on Saturday 8 March from 10am to 3pm at Harcourt Leisure Centre. Harcourt Applefest 2025 features activities to please every member of the family and it has grown so much that it has now spread to a larger location.
World domination begins: RYT take to the stage
Madison Eastmond. Joining forces with other regional artists and teen ensembles in Whyalla and Bendigo for the 2025 Adelaide Festival, the Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT) will bunker down to survive an alien invasion in their new collaboration and retelling of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds.
Festival application refusal
The Buloke Shire Council has advised the organisers of the 2025 Esoteric Music Festival to cancel the event due to Council officers recommending the refusal of a planning permit based on significant health and safety concerns. With the Festival’s previous five-year planning permit expiring after the event last year, an application for a new ten-year permit was submitted in September 2024, with approval required to enable this year’s event to be held in Donald from 6 to 11 March 2025.
A fringe too far for Yorke Peninsula
Sarah Herrmann. Just one act is visiting Yorke Peninsula this Adelaide Fringe season, while regions a similar distance from the city, such as the Clare and Barossa Valleys, are hosting up to 30 events. This has prompted a local arts advocate to urge YP audiences to speak out and, importantly, show up when the time comes, if they want to see more arts offerings here.
“OK”! What a weekend!
Jenny Pollard. As the adrenaline rush from "OK Motels" subsides, Charlton can reflect on how the modest little festival, which began back in 2018, has now grown into a full-on, "all-of-town" experience as 800 visitors descended on the "Friendly River Town" to make last weekend’s event one for the record books.
Lake Meran Festival huge success
The second annual Lake Meran Festival was held last Sunday afternoon with hundreds of visitors coming along to enjoy the music, community, a great afternoon by the lake and to take a look at the star of the event, Grumpy the Turtle. Weighing in at almost one tonne, Grumpy was designed and built by Bendigo artist Moz Moresi ...
Trundle Back In Time Tractor Pull, 15-16 March 2025
Trundle Showgrounds
This year is amping up to be our biggest year yet with the Trundle Back In Time Tractor Pull. In 2025 we are...
Be at Beulah for “Wide Open Spaces”
Beulah’s “Wide Open Spaces” Music and Family Festival is coming on March, 8 and 9, 2025. Held on the green grass, under shady trees beside the Yarriambiack Creek, there is plenty of space to relax, dance, and enjoy the music, food and refreshments with friends and family.
Home Ground Sounds
Cohuna is hosting a one day music festival, Home Ground Sounds, on Sunday March 9 at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve with gates opening at 2pm ... The event is a unique opportunity to experience world class musical performances and help support the local community as the night will raise funds for the Cohuna Kangas Football Netball Club, Cohuna Show, Cohuna Athletics and Nondies Cricket.
Lights, camera, steampunk
Serviceton Station was transformed into a steampunk dreamscape on Sunday as models, stylist, photographers, and media gathered for a ‘wow factor’ photoshoot to promote the upcoming Wimmera Steampunk Festival.
Festival frenzy returns in 2025
Madison Eastmond. The Riverland Food & Wine Festival is back to take over the Berri riverfront this March, with the revamped event preparing to showcase the best local produce, wine, and entertainment. With a focus on local wine and cuisine, sustainability, and safety, the classic event has been reimagined for the Riverland community since it was last held in the region six years ago.
