With COVID restrictions easing and Council requirements for organisers relaxing, local events are making a resurgence.
Perhaps the biggest Daylesford event of the year is the iconic ChillOut festival over the Labour Day weekend from Thursday, March 10 to Sunday, March 13. The festival, which started in 1997, is the biggest regional LGBTIQA+ celebration in Australia.
ChillOut is one of the only local events which has not been cancelled for the past two years because of COVID restrictions. The festival was one of the last events to run in 2020 before social distancing restrictions were introduced. The festival ran in a pared-down format in 2021 without the highlight event, the ChillOut Parade but this year the Parade is back starting at 10:00 am Sunday, March 13 in Vincent Street.
A full festival timetable is available on the festival website. Or if you’re wandering around town and want a hard copy of the program, pick up the most recent issue of The Local.
Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, said, “The festival brings colour to the region and showcases our Shire as one which is inclusive and welcomes all people, regardless of background or identity. We encourage the community to get out and experience this great event.”
Other events are also gearing up around the Shire. The Cresfest Music Festival, Clunes Booktown and the Trentham Spudfest are back on after COVID interruptions. The Daylesford Agricultural Show will return in November 2022 after cancellations in 2020 and 2021.
Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, said that events bring many positive benefits to our local community, both economic and social.
“Last Sunday the Daylesford Motorfest took place at Victoria Park in Daylesford and was a huge success. Many local community groups took part raising funds for their club or group. The town was also very busy with visitors and many vintage cars,” said Cr Drylie. “We are excited to see so many events returning in 2022.”
Event details for upcoming events are available on websites and Facebook pages. A number of the upcoming events are listed below.
ChillOut Festival – 25 Year Silver Jubilee
Daylesford
10-14 March 2022
chilloutfestival.com.au
The Daylsford Show
Daylesford
November 26, 2022
daylesfordshow.com
Cresfest – Folk and Roots Music Festival
Creswick
1 – 3 April 2022
cresfest.com.au
Clunes Booktown Festival
Clunes
30 April – 1 May 2022
clunesbooktown.com.au
The Great Trentham Spudfest
Trentham
Date to be finalised. Watch the website.
trenthamspudfest.org.au
Gold Rush Trail Run
Hepburn Springs
10 April 2022
goldrushrun.net
To keep up with everything that is happening in the Hepburn Shire visit https://visithepburnshire.com.au/events
