After a hugely successful opening, the Words in Winter Festival continues this weekend with another rich program of talks, workshops and performances in Daylesford. With something for everyone — from global politics to artificial intelligence, from writing workshops to music for the whole family — the encore weekend promises to be just as engaging as the first.
Saturday 30 August
Understanding Palestine in Daylesford
A shared meal and lecture that invites our community into deeper understanding of the history and current struggles of Palestine. Tickets are just $20 with a shared Palestinian meal. The presenter, Yousef Alreemawi is a Palestinian musician, scholar and linguist who is the founder and director of the Averroes Centre for Arab Culture and presenter of the Understanding Palestine series of public lectures on the history of the Palestinian national movement.
The event starts at 1:00 pm at Christ Church, 54 Central Springs Rd, Daylesford. Tickets at: https://events.humanitix.com/understanding-palestine-in-daylesford
AI: The Hope and the Hype
Artificial intelligence is everywhere in the headlines — but what does it really mean for our lives and our communities? This free event will explore both the promises and the pitfalls of AI, separating fact from fiction in a conversation that is sure to spark ideas and debate. Prof. Hal Swerissen is an emeritus professor who lives in Daylesford and has a long-standing research and teaching interest in learning and cognitive science, including the history of computing and artificial intelligence and its implications for the future of work, leisure and community life.
This free event starts a 3:00 pm at Radius Art, 76 Main Rd, Hepburn. Register at : events.humanitix.com/artificial-intelligence-the-hope-and-the-hype
Light in the Dark: Reclaiming Culture for Community
Join an early-evening gathering in a stunning gallery setting for an uplifting conversation about the power of culture to strengthen and restore community. Join Jade Lillie and Heather Robinson, two cultural writers and thinkers, while they explore what cultural value means to communities and our way of life. Heather will be launching her new book Beyond the Books: Culture, Value, and Why Libraries Matter. With bubbles and nibbles included, this $20 event offers an inspiring way to round out your Saturday.
The event is at Stony Creek Gallery, 10 Stony Creek Rd, Daylesford starting at 5:30 pm. Tickets at events.humanitix.com/light-in-the-dark-reclaiming-culture-for-community/tickets
Sunday 31 August
Curious Writers Workshop
Calling all readers and writers! This hands-on workshop will dive into symbolism and metaphor, exploring how writers use imagery to layer meaning and spark imagination. Whether you’re polishing your own work or simply want to deepen your reading experience, this is a session to get curious and creative. Daylesford local, Lu Sexton and her colleague Stephanie Preston are two editors passionate about beautiful sentences and other writerly gems, who have carved their own niche with these themed writing workshops.
The workshop will be held at Radius Art, 76 Main Rd Hepburn, starting at 11:00 am. Tickets $30 / $20 concession are available at events.humanitix.com/curious-writers-book-club-symbolism-and-metaphor
I Saw the Light – Family Farm Band
Round out the festival with a musical journey into the haunting world of Southern Gothic storytelling. Daylesford’s own Family Farm Band blends poetry, music and theatre into a performance that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. This is an all-ages show and kids come free! Show starts at 2:00 pm at Radius Art, 76 Main Rd Hepburn. Adult tickets $10/ Free for kids, available at events.humanitix.com/i-saw-the-light-southern-gothic-musical-storytelling-with-family-farm-band-59mpk7se
The encore weekend of Words in Winter promises big ideas, intimate conversations and plenty of creative sparks. With several events already close to selling out, now is the time to secure your place. For the full program visit wordsinwinter.com.
