April
THE Once and John Flanagan – Festival of Small Halls
Wed 3 -Glenlyon Hall
Festival of Small Halls rolls into Glenlyon with the award-winning Canadian trio The Once and Australia’s John Flanagan supported by The Cartwheels.
Festival of Small Halls is a series of tours that takes the best folk and contemporary acoustic artists performing at two of our country’s largest festivals, and sends them on the road to tiny halls in communities all over Australia. Inspired from the seed of an idea in Canada for a new touring structure to take great music into regional areas. In conjunction with Port Fairy Folk Festival and the National Folk Festival.
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DMR Open Studios
Throughout Daylesford & Macedon Ranges
Weekend 1: Sat 13 & Sun 14
Weekend 2: Sat 20, Sun 21 & Mon 22
This year 24 artists in 21 studios invite you to their diverse working studios, continuing to bring together professional visual artists and you the public, in the beautiful surrounds of the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges (DMR) region.
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The Muses Delight – From the British Isles to the Australian Bush
Wed 17 – Porcupine Ridge
The Muses’ Delight brings a toe-tapping concert of baroque and folk music in an intimate house concert in Porcupine Ridge on Wednesday 17 April, 7:00pm. The inspiration for this program came from an old book of folk tunes that belonged to Katie Kurtz, the great-grandmother of our cellist, Lucy. We’ll explore some of these dance tunes, and chart their journey from the ballrooms and concert halls of the British Isles to the sunny and rugged Australian Bush. From Purcell, Handel and the traditional folk music of the British Isles to Ross Edwards and Katie Kurtz’ tunes, we’ll take you on a journey that will have you up and dancing!
The Muses’ Delight is a vibrant early music ensemble made of genre-crossing musicians Meredith Beardmore (flute), Katie Yap (violin/viola) and Lucy Price (cello). We play on period instruments, which have an intimate sound that’s full of character, and give exciting performances of music both well-known and obscure.
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Two’s A Party – The Old Married Couple Duo Tour
Fri 19 – Blue BEan Love Cafe – Hepburn Springs
The Old Married Couple are the faces of new vintage, playing Dixieland style Folk music with a vaudevillian twist that would be at home as much in the Music Halls of the 19th century as they are in the 21st century.
Vintage in style and sound, The Old Married Couple combine a witty songwriting style with a distinctive kazoo filled music. Taking cues from Musical comedy and cabaret legends like George Formby, Bette Midler, Marie Lloyd and Cole Porter, The Old Married Couple are spreading Toots and Hoots around the World.
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Paul Bangay Stonefields Private Tours – Autumn
Fri 26 – Denver
Experience the garden at Stonefields in each season through the eyes and words of its creator.
Tour will be conducted by Paul personally, with tour numbers around 24 people to personalize the tour. This is a special opportunity for passionate garden lovers to enjoy the garden in the company of the designer.
AUTUMN IN ITALy Cooking School – Piper St Food Co
Sat 27 – Kyneton
A pasta class but with so much more- Hand cut egg pasta with ragu, classic seasonal side dishes, a Tuscan bread & tomato ‘soup’ , plus quail & pancetta and finished off with the best tiramisu you’ll have tasted
$185 Class includes: Hands on class, recipes, lunch with a glass of wine and take home pasta
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Slow Stitching Workshop – In the Barn at The Estate Trentham
SUN 28 – Trentham
Robyn a Bobbin will bring the experience and joy of using the creative process to slow down and connect. Create your own unique textile collage and work towards a finished piece. With all natural, hand-dyed and hand printed fabric you will be guided through the process of fabric selection and composition, as well as, thread selection and care, and stitching arrangement.
All materials, equipment and afternoon tea are included.
Full Price $138
Early Bird $125 (ends Sunday, April 21st)
Bring a Friend $120
Regular Local Markets
Every Week
Saturday: Wesley Hill Market (Castlemaine) – 149 Pyrenees Hwy, 7.30am – 1pm
Sunday: Daylesford Market: Old Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St, 8am – 1.30pm
Sunday: Daylesford Farmers’ Market, The Woodshed, 21A Raglan St, 8am – 4pm
1st Saturday of the Month
Daylesford Farmers’ Market: Daylesford Primary School Vincent St, 9am – 1pm
Woodend Farmers’ Market: High and Forest St, 9am – 1pm
2nd Saturday of the Month
Kyneton Farmers’ Market: St Paul Park, 8.30am – 1pm
2nd Sunday of the Month
Maldon Market: Fountain St, 9am – 2pm
Clunes Farmers’ Market: Collins Place and Fraser St – 9am to 1pm
3rd Saturday of the Month
Trentham Farmers’ Market: Trentham Town Square, 9am – 1pm
Creswick Market: Creswick Neighbourhood Centre, 9am – 1pm
3rd Sunday of the Month
Glenlyon Village Market: Glenlyon Shire Hall, 9am – 1pm
Woodend Village Market: Forest Street, 9am – 1pm
4th Sunday of the Month
Trentham Station Trash and Treasure Market: Victoria Street, 9am – 2pm
Live Music
Blue Bean Love Cafe – Hepburn Springs
Music all through the week. Check their Facebook page for details.
The Palais – Hepburn Springs
Beautifully renovated and well loved entertainment venue and bar. Visit The Palais website for details.
Daylesford Cider Co – Musk
Monthly daytime live performances at the cidery. Check the calendar here.
May
Plate Up Ballarat
1 to 31 – Ballarat
A new annual food festival for Ballarat. A celebration of local produce, food and wine.
A full months program of food related events are scheduled throughout May from composting workshops to gin tastings, kids in the kitchen to blokes who bake.
All the details are on the website.
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Booktown Festival
Sat 4 and Sun 5 – Clunes
Each year the Clunes Booktown Festival attracts 18,000 people who enjoy the most amazing whole town bookshop in the world. Think author talks, workshops, live entertainment, a kids village, and good food.
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My French Table – Cooking Classes
Every Sat – MAISON MALDON – Maldon
Melbourne chef and restaurateur Denis Hagger hosts a series of cooking classes throughout the year. Denis teaches French *Bistronomique food techniques in an approachable, fully hands-on way.
Classes are limited to 4 people and conducted in a convivial culinary environment.
10am to 2pm
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Great Trentham Spudfest
Sat 4 – Trentham
The annual Great Trentham Spudfest attracting around 6,000 people will again bring all the fun and games to take over the town. This festival is a wonderful way to celebrate the spirit of the community and recognise Trentham’s potato-growing heritage. With games, tours, produce, stalls, music, food, displays and of course spuds!
10am-4pm, free
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Lavandula Autumn Harvest Festival
Sun 19 – Shepherds Flat
Lavandula’s Autumn Harvest festival is a celebration of the land, the people who work with it and, of course, the bountiful harvest.
In true festival spirit there will be music, rural demonstrations, artisan stallholders, activities for the kids, tours of the original stone farmhouse, great food (wood-fired oven, BBQ and festival-sized paella) and acres of gardens and grounds to explore. A great day for the whole family.
$2-$6. Dogs welcome on leash.
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Woodend Winter Arts Festival
Fri 7 to mon 10 Woodend
The 15th annual Woodend Winter Arts Festival brings together Australian and international artists, performers, authors and commentators for the Macedon Ranges’ premier arts festival.
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Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival
Fri 19 t0 Sun 21 – Castlemaine
The Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival (C-Doc) is an annual three day event held featuring a world class program of films showcasing a series of fascinating worlds populated by even more fascinating characters. Curated by dual Emmy Award-winning director, Geoffrey Smith, C-Doc draws its program from the best of feature-length documentary films globally and showcases Australian film makers.
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Words in Winter
Daylesford and District
Usually a full months program. Dates announced closer to event.
Founded in 2002 Words in Winter is an annual literary and arts festival held in August each year in Daylesford, the Hepburn Shire and surrounding districts.
It is a celebration of words, stories and ideas in all their forms shared by locals and visiting presenters through readings, poetry, theatre, music, talks, workshops, visiting authors, and exhibitions.
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Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival
Kyneton
Generally the first week of the month.
The includes favorites such as Kyneton’s Festival of One Act Plays, the Antique and Vintage Fair, Ferret Racing, Buskers, Open Gardens, Scarecrow displays, the Spring Flower Show and the continuation of the recently added Kyneton Dog Dash.
The Daffodil Art Prize and the Art Photography Prize will be exhibited throughout the Festival and a host of local galleries and studios will open their doors to display the work and practice of our diverse local artists.
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Paul Bangay Stonefields Private Tour – Early Spring
Fri 4 – Denver
Experience the garden at Stonefields in each season through the eyes and words of its creator.
Tour will be conducted by Paul personally, with tour numbers around 24 people to personalize the tour. This is a special opportunity for passionate garden lovers to enjoy the garden in the company of the designer.
Paul Bangay Stonefields Private Tour – Early Spring
Fri 11 – Denver
Experience the garden at Stonefields in each season through the eyes and words of its creator.
Tour will be conducted by Paul personally, with tour numbers around 24 people to personalize the tour. This is a special opportunity for passionate garden lovers to enjoy the garden in the company of the designer.
Everything In It’s Right Place – Wine Festival
Sun 13 Daylesford
A lo-fi wine festival showcase wines made with integrity. “Nothing commercial, nothing tinkered with, just real wine made by real great peeps.” as they say.
Kyneton Music Festival
Kyneton
Kyneton Music Festival is an annual, locally conceived festival featuring a great line up of Australian music. Not to be missed if you love your Australian indi music.
Dates published closer to the event
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Ride Daylesford Fundraiser
Spa Country
Annual fund raiser with over 2,000 cyclists who will ride through the beautiful countryside of Hepburn, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander Shires. The ride will pass the towns of Kyneton, Malmsbury, Elphinston, Faraday, Taradale, Harcourt, Walmer, Maldon, Newstead, Franklinford, and Hepburn Springs before returning to Daylesford.
Date published closer to the event
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St Erth Spring Garden Fair
Blackwood
Come and enjoy this historic garden nestled in the hills of Blackwood and take in a free tour or mini-workshop while the kids enjoy garden art activities.
Castlemaine Festival of Gardens
Castlemaine and Region
Every two years, in Melbourne Cup Week, a selection of gardens are opened for your enjoyment. As always there is a variety of gardens, from grand and historical gardens to small cottage plots and gardens which will intrigue and inspire.
Next scheduled event 2020
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Kyneton Cup
Kyneton
A Marquee event and public holiday in Kyneton, forming part of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival. This event day attracts people from all over Australia and other parts of the world, who now attend this day each year as part of their Melbourne Cup Week activities.
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Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend
Creswick
This annual community event, now in it’s fifth year, is organised by Business & Tourism Creswick Inc. All profits are used for local Creswick projects. We invite you to visit the scenic, historic Central Goldfields Region of Victoria and see an array of diverse private gardens, iconic commercial gardens and nurseries, and more.
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Kyneton Agricultural Show
Kyneton
Carnival Friday Night 5.30 – 10.30 and Show Day Saturday
A classic country show with rides, pets, farm animals, craft tent, show bags and all the regional produce, art and cooking prizes. There is a ute muster, Friday night fireworks and plenty of entertainment.
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Budburst Food and Wine Festival
Macedon ranges
Budburst is the regions number one food and wine festival where mainly small and family owned wineries open their doors. Explore and experience the diversity of wine styles grown and vinified across this outstanding winemaking region.
More InformationPaul Bangay Stonefields Private Tour – Late Spring
Fri 15 – Denver
Experience the garden at Stonefields in each season through the eyes and words of its creator.
Tour will be conducted by Paul personally, with tour numbers around 24 people to personalize the tour. This is a special opportunity for passionate garden lovers to enjoy the garden in the company of the designer.
Paul Bangay Stonefields Private Tour – Late Spring
Fri 22 – Denver
Experience the garden at Stonefields in each season through the eyes and words of its creator.
Tour will be conducted by Paul personally, with tour numbers around 24 people to personalize the tour. This is a special opportunity for passionate garden lovers to enjoy the garden in the company of the designer.
Malmsbury Village Fayre
Malmsbury
The annual Malmsbury Village Fayre, a fun day full of festivities in the lush Malmsbury Botanic Gardens. This year’s theme is “Magic in the Gardens”: fairies, fortune tellers, medieval actors and magic will feature across the day with something for everyone to surprise and delight.
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Daylesford Show
Daylesford
Billed as ‘one of the states best exhibitions’ expect a classic country show day with entertainment, animals, food and of course the show of the regions best produce.
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New Years Eve Parade
31- Daylesford
Annual free event for the whole family to enjoy.
Daylesford Wine Tours – Classic Day Tour
Region Wide
Join wine guide Clay Watson for a whole day tour of local wineries. Tours kick off and return to Daylesford (or your accommodation) and includes all tastings at 5 locations plus lunch at the Farmers Arms.
$220 per person – approx. 6 hours
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New Years Day Races
New Years Day – Hanging Rock
This event attracts over 3,000 each year. Racing at the Rock is considered by most people as a very unique experience, the best that Country Racing can offer, a true Aussie Day Out and a must for the “Bucket List”.
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Glenlyon Mixed Sports day
New Years Day – Glenlyon
Join in a long tradition of fun and games at the Glenlyon Sports Day on New Year’s Day. Since 1857 locals have battled it out on the racetrack, in the wood chop arena, delicate women have competed throwing gumboots (not very PC – is it?), sculling mineral water, scoffing bullboars …. From 10am at the Glenlyon Reserve. All proceeds go to local charities and organisations.
Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm – Harvest Festival
Shepherds Flat
Celebrate Lavandula Swiss Italian Farms lavender harvest. Visitors are welcome to learn about the lavender process from cutting in the field to watching the flowers being distilled for their precious essential oil. Hundreds of bunches will hang beneath every available verandah and, of course, our fresh lavender will be available for sale. 10am-5pm
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Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour
25 + 26 January 2020 Hanging Rock
Sir Elton John, recently crowned by Billboard as the most successful performing male solo artist of all time, today revealed that a Hanging Rock concert for Saturday 25 January 2020 will be included in the epic 15-date Australian leg of his global Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Elton perform one last time at one of the most unique venues in Australia.
More InformationAustralia Day Races
Sat 26 – Hanging Rock
This event attracts over 3,000 each year. Racing at the Rock is considered by most people as a very unique experience, the best that Country Racing can offer, a true Aussie Day Out and a must for the “Bucket List”.
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March
Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival
Woodend
Dates announced closer to event.
The Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival is a vibrant showcase of the region’s premier environmental programs, projects, products and services. Located in the scenic Macedon Ranges, festival visitors will be inspired by an engaging and diverse event format that features an exciting line-up of innovative exhibitors, free eco-workshops, guest speakers, film screenings, and kid’s activities.
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Chillout
DAYLESFORD
Dates announced closer to event.
ChillOut, Australia’s number one Queer Country Pride festival, is in its 23nd year in 2020.
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Lost Trades Fair
Kyneton
Dates announced closer to event.
Celebrating the art of skilled manual work, ancient crafts and rare trades, the Lost Trades Fair, returning to Kyneton is once again giving career artisans and traditional tradespeople a platform to showcase their life’s work and share their knowledge with festival goers. There will be a range of local food makers serving fresh traditional food & drinks.
Castlemaine State Festival
Castlemaine
Dates announced closer to event.
One of the major regional festivals in Victoria. A full program of music, film, discussions, performance, visual art, festival club and events. Not to be missed.
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