Festival

Westbrook and Wyreema are not typically known as tourist hotspots, however five strong entries in the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers have attracted thousands of visitors to the two towns over the past few weeks.

Succulent Fest, hosted at Bunker’s Hill State School, is increasingly becoming a flagship event of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, this year’s staging attracting over two thousand visitors and raising nearly $12,000. This year marked the sixth staging of the event, organised by group of volunteers under the P&C Association of the school.

Surfing became the obsession of a legion of bored and restless teenagers in 1960s Australia, kids looking for adventure and freedom from the stultifying norms and expectations of their straight 1950s upbringing ... The arrival of the exciting new phenomenon and its far-reaching impact are recorded in a thrilling documentary film showing at the Byron Bay Film Festival in October.

The 75th anniversary staging of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers kicks off tomorrow, 13 September and will continue for a few action-packed weeks until 7 October. This four-week celebration showcases Spring gardens in full bloom, exciting foodie experiences that’ll make your palate blossom, kids’ entertainment that will plant smiles all around and music that will have your spirits flowering with joy.

Menang elder Aunty Vernice Gillies and Menang man Larry Blight will lead guided walking tours along the Kwoorabup riverbanks at the Kwoorabup River Festival [on Saturday 21 September] ... This cultural and environmental experience aims to help everyone better appreciate the Kwoorabup River and the Wilson/Nullaki inlet as they paddle, row and swim through the events of the day.

The outstanding success of the 2024 Man From Snowy Bush Festival has been a testament to the dedication of board members and volunteers over a challenging period, chairman Cameron Jackson highlighted at the recent annual general meeting. "The past two years once again were not without their challenges and of course change can often be the hardest thing to manage," he said.

A report into the economic benefit of Bluesfest to the Northern Rivers region and the state has revealed the music festival, which is in jeopardy of not continuing beyond 2025, contributed $148 million to the region and $235 million to the NSW economy this year. Lawrence Consulting were contracted to prepare a report into the economic impact of Bluesfest which reveals significant economic contributions at a crucial time as the festival prepares for it’s final 2025 event…

Greater Shepparton City Council, in partnership with the Victorian State Government and FReezA, is excited to announce a BMX, skate, and scoot competition and art workshop as part of Greater Shepparton Youth Fest 2024. These events will take place on Sunday 29 September 2024 at the Shepparton Skate Park.

Lismore City Council is excited to announce that hundreds of cycling enthusiasts will converge on Lismore next month for the first-ever Lismore Cycling Festival. The bumper two-day event, held in partnership with the Byron Bay Cycle Club ... promises a mix of competitive racing, participation rides and ‘Come-and-try’ sessions for children and adults.

Kyogle chef Shelly Snadden cooked her heart out at the Sample Food Festival in Bangalow ... Kyogle councillor Danielle Mulholland was by her side in the My Mayor Rules cook-off. Kyogle mayor Kylie Webster was unable to attend so former mayor Danielle stepped up.

With a special focus on celebrating the United Nations International Year of Camelids (think camels, alpacas and llamas!), this year’s Summer Land Bush Festival on September 14 in the Scenic Rim is set to a spectacular celebration of country life … Whether it’s to grab a selfie with an alpaca, a camel ride, cooking demos, or to simply to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere…

The Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations’ program launched today at the National Wine Centre. From 1-20 October, festivalgoers will enjoy a range of degustation dinners, masterclasses, tastings, winery tours, and more. Festival highlights include the Coonawarra Golf Day, Pizza and Tunes at Raidis Estate, the International Cabernet Masterclass, as well as the longstanding Combined Wineries Cabernet Decade[nce] Tasting hosted by the Coonawarra Vignerons Association.

The Snowy Mountain Tango Festival took place, for the third consecutive year, on the weekend in Corryong. Steadily growing, it attracted more than 100 participants with dancers and performers coming from Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, as well as from Gippsland and the local region, including Albury/Wodonga, Batlow, Corryong.

The biannual cluBarham Rock by the River Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival attracted 250 attendees from local and interstate to enjoy four days of live music and dancing ... The four days of entertainment were complemented by dancing lessons and the opportunity to buy the perfect attire or pair of swanky shoes to complement one’s moves on the dance floor.

As the trend for native Australian tucker is on the rise, Celebrity Bush Cook and multi-award winner Ranger Nick takes camp oven cooking to another level. Inspired by the creativity among the competitors at the annual Trundle Bush Tucker Day camp oven cook off, Ranger Nick is expanding the Oz tucker from kangaroo and other game meat to a more refined flavouring of his meals with a taste of Australian native ingredients.

The iconic Aussie event, Trundle Bush Tucker Day, returns on Saturday 7 September 2024 and it’s set to be the best yet. Now in its 37th year, this community event just keeps on getting better with more and more entertainment and activities for the whole family. This year’s headline act, The Wolfe Brothers, will being fans from far and wide to experience this unique family friendly event.

One of Australia’s longest running and most prestigious music festivals, the iconic Byron Bay Bluesfest will have its final curtain call at the 2025 festival. Since the first East Coast Annual Blues Festival in 1990, which was headlined by American performers Charlie Musselwhite and Canned Heat at the Byron Bay Arts Factory, Bluesfest has been held every year at Easter in the Byron Bay area, except for 2 years during the Covid pandemic.

Little heroes are encouraged to prepare for the adventure of a lifetime when PAW Patrol makes their way to the Lockyer Valley! Heroic pups Chase and Marshall, together with their fearless leader Ryder will visit this year’s Laidley Spring Festival come September and remember, no job is too big, no pup is too small for these heroes!

The Goldfields Gothic Festival took place last weekend and was once again a perfectly sombre, solemn and melancholy event; attendees had a wonderful time and the organisers declared it a success … Under the steam of Peter Thompson and a number of key helpers — including Sasha Cuha, Gabrielle Kelly and a crew wearing top hats — most of the main events in 2024 took place at the Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum.

Locals and visitors in town experienced an exciting long weekend filled with festivities during the annual Desert Harmony Festival. The four-day event featured a diverse range of activities that catered to everyone, from Drag Storytime with Constantina Bush for the little ones to captivating musical performances by talented Barkly artists throughout the weekend.

Line dancers from all over the country descended upon Narrandera recently, turning the town into a lively festival of twirls and stomps. Locals jumped in, mingling with the competitors, creating cherished memories and savouring the electric atmosphere.