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Marking the Festival’s golden milestone — 1976 to 2026 — the Hargraves Street Party opens our 50th anniversary with a joyful, powerful welcome to ten days of creativity, community and connection.
This much-loved celebration draws on the Festival’s long tradition of place-based storytelling. Hargraves Street becomes a meeting ground for locals, families, visitors and artists to gather, share space and step into a new chapter together.
OPENING NIGHT STREET PARTY – PROGRAM
Main Stage
6:00pm – Welcome to Country and Official Speeches
6:15-6:30pm – Nalderun Songbook Medley. Performed by local Primary Schools choir
6:40-7pm – Surf Rock. Performed by Castlemaine Secondary College Band
Heartical Hi Powa Stage
7:00-7:30pm – Jungle City Projects – Jamaican Dancehall, Afro Fusion and various Hip Hop dance forms
Main Stage
7:30-8:00pm – Castlemaine Circus, Functional Chaos Entertainment and Cho Kairin
Heartical Hi Powa Stage
8:00pm – 8:15pm – UKnow (Live Hip Hop)
Main Stage
8:20pm–9:10pm – Amaru Tribe
Heartical Hi Powa Stage
9:10pm–11:00pm Rolling DJ Program – MC Stick Mareboo
OPENING NIGHT STREET PARTY –EVENT MESSAGES
Seating – Please don’t bring chairs. If you need a chair, come to the First Aid station – See Site Map for location.
Food & Drinks – Local surrounding businesses will be providing take away food on the Opening Night.
Street Closures – Mostyn Street between Hargraves and Urquart Streets will be closed from 2pm. Hargraves Street will be closed between Forest Street and Mostyn Street from 8pm.
Parking – Parking will be available on Western Reserve from 4pm – gold coin donation to SES/Lions TBC.
