What’s On in Daylesford and Macedon Ranges

Fathers Day – Sun 1

The Jodi Lee Foundation Trek
Fri 6 & Sat 7 – Daylesford

Come to Daylesford and explore the picturesque Goldfields Track and Hepburn Springs whilst trekking in the name of bowel cancer prevention. The Foundation’s mission is to empower people to take active steps to prevent bowel cancer and live healthy lives. Money raised is used to raise awareness about bowel cancer nationally through a number of events and initiatives.

80 kilometres – $275, 25 kilometres – $185, 10 kilometres – $25

A Feast of Music – Melbourne Chamber Orchestra
Fri 6 to Sun 8 – Daylesford

In its seventh edition, the 2019 Festival features three chamber music performances, an orchestral concert and a musical dinner.

SOARING SPIRITS, Fri  6:00pm – Daylesford Town Hall
BEETHOVEN SEPTET, Sat 11:00am – Daylesford Town Hall
FLUTE & HARP, Sat 2:30pm – Daylesford Town Hall
CHAMBER MUSIC DINING, Sat 6:00pm – Lake House
FRENCH FANTASIES, Sun 11:30am – Daylesford Town Hall

Spring Masterclass – The lakehouse
Sun 15 – Daylesford

A full day of demonstrations and lively foodie discussion with some of Australia’s top chefs including: Andrew McConnell – Cutler & Co., Cumulus Inc, Supernormal, Rinky and Pinky, Melbourne, Matt Moran – ARIA, Barangaroo House, Chiswick, North Bondi Fish, Paddo Inn Grill, NSW. Hosted by Lake House Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker AM in The Cooking School at Lake House. Day includes two demonstrations, recipes, tastings, baguette lunch, wine and refreshments.

$195

Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival
Thu 5 to Sun 15 – Kyneton

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.

Affinity Quartet – A Classical Afternoon
Sat 21 – Guildford Vinyard – Guildford

Affinity Quartet returns to Guildford Vineyard to perform a special program exploring the evolution of the string quartet through masterworks by Purcell, Beethoven and Bartók.

Cellar Door opens from 1pm for short and long eats by Chef Zack Grumont.
Seated recital in the Barrel Room at 3pm.

$35. Includes a glass of wine

AFL Grand Final Holiday – Fri 27

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.

Melbourne Cup – Tue 5

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

Bank House – Open Garden
Sat 16 and Sun 17 – Newlyn

A superlative garden, rarely open to the public. Formal, Romantic, Horticultural, Unique. All precedes go to the purchase of artworks for the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

$10

Kyneton Cup
wed 6 – 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.

Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend
sat 9 & sun 10 – Creswick

This annual community event 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.

$5 entry

Kyneton Agricultural Show
Fri 15 & Sat 16 – 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.

Budburst Food and Wine Festival
Sat 9 & Sun 10 – 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.

Paul 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.

Clunes Agricultural Show
Sat 16 – Clunes

In its 159th year. Horses, utes, homecrafts and a grand parade. One of the turn-out events in Clunes.

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
Sun 17 – Malmsbury

The annual Malmsbury Village Fayre, a fun day full of festivities in the lush Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.  This themed day outing attracts fun and family and always manages to surprise and delight with something for everyone.

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.

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”.

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

Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road
Sat 25 & Sun 26 – 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.

Australia 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”.

Labour Day Holiday (Vic) – Mon 6

Chillout
DAYLESFORD

Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival
Woodend

Dates announced closer to event.

Daylesford Polo
St 21 – Drummond

Lost Trades Fair
Kyneton

Castlemaine State Festival
Castlemaine

2021 is the next year for the festival

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.

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.

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.

Australian Chamber Choir – JS Bach’s St John Passion
Sun 5 – St Paul’s Anglican Church – Clunes

Australian Chamber Choir with the Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, directed by Douglas Lawrence, present the shorter, punchier St John with an orchestra of period instruments. Many of the instruments chosen for this work were rarely heard even in Bach’s time creating an exciting and authentic sound.

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

Mothers Day – Sun 10

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

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.

Beccy Cole with Libby O’Donovan – The Palais
Sun 26 – Hepburn Springs

Spend your Sunday afternoon with 9 times Golden Guitar award winner Beccy Cole and guests.

$35, show starts 3pm

Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival
Castlemaine

Dates announced closer to event.

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. A curated program featuring best of feature-length documentary films globally and showcases Australian film makers.