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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T143000
DTSTAMP:20260325T203848Z
CREATED:20251117T015553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T203848Z
UID:10000485-1774792800-1774794600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:The Situationist Travel Agency
DESCRIPTION:Daydreaming subverts the world – Raoul Vaneigem\, The Revolution of Everyday Life.  \nThe Situationist Travel Agency (STAA) continues the tradition of subverting and repurposing city maps\, adopted by the Situationist International in 1957. At STAA\, we play with the conventions and banality of international travel. The familiar and yet strange spaces in between here and there\, that can be both nowhere and anywhere at any time of the day or night. \nYour time at the travel agency is designed to conjure a state of mind conducive to a playful\, if potentially baffling\, experience of walking in Castlemaine using a map from one of a choice of international destinations. Please note all walks offered are self-guided. Bring your baggage and be refreshed by this local/global adventure. We dare you.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/the-situationist-travel-agency/2026-03-29/2/
LOCATION:Castlemaine Market Building\, 44 Mostyn St\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/STAA_Cairo_no_text_EDIT.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T190000
DTSTAMP:20251215T032250Z
CREATED:20251124T040829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T032250Z
UID:10004452-1774785600-1774810800@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Just One in the Crowd: Harley Parker Photography - Book Launch
DESCRIPTION:Carson Country Band\, La de Das\, Spectrum\, Wendy Saddington\, Chain \nOn his eighteenth birthday Harley Parker was given a camera by his grandfather\, and went to a music club\, the Thumpin’ Tum\, for the first time. \nHis love of photography and music took him on a journey of discovery and delight. \nJust One in the Crowd is an unparalleled collection of photos and memories that capture the spirit and essence of the music scene in Melbourne in the early Seventies. \nA selection of Harley’s photos will be exhibited at the Taproom during the State Festival\, and the publication Just One in the Crowd: Harley Parker Photography\, will be officially launched there on Wednesday March 25. \nOFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH: WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH\, 5.30PM \n 
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/just-one-in-the-crowd-harley-parker-photography/2026-03-29/
LOCATION:Taproom – Shedshaker Brewing\, 9 Walker Street\, Castlemaine\, Vic\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Free Events,Words & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Just-One-in-The-Crowd-Carson-1971.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T170000
DTSTAMP:20260312T070540Z
CREATED:20251111T030242Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T070540Z
UID:10000435-1774782000-1774803600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Closing Day Garden Party
DESCRIPTION:Set in the heart of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens\, beside the historic Mill complex\, the Garden Party is one of the Festival’s most beloved traditions. For our 1976–2026 golden anniversary\, we invite you to spend a full day immersed in music\, dance\, performance\, food\, artist markets and community — an open-air celebration shaped by the creativity of the region and the people who gather here. \n \nThe Botanical Gardens hold a special place in Castlemaine’s story: a place for picnic afternoons\, wandering under old trees\, and sharing time with family and friends. The Garden Party builds on this local character\, bringing together the town’s makers\, musicians\, performers\, radio hosts and circus artists in a setting that feels relaxed\, welcoming and full of possibility. Whether you’re discovering a new act\, joining a workshop\, listening to a band on the lawn\, or simply settling under the canopy with something delicious to eat\, the day invites you to experience the Festival at your own pace. \nThis golden-year edition honours the people and artistic energies that make Castlemaine unique. The program unfolds across the grounds with an expansive lineup: Super Mandé Percussion\, Belly Savalas\, Gusto Gusto\, World Kitchen\, Uncle Ron Murray\, Thompson’s Foundry Band\, Dandyman\, Castlemaine Hot Rods\, Main FM\, Castlemaine Circus & Castlemaine Fringe Festival. Each brings a different rhythm\, flavour or story — creating an evolving soundtrack that invites you to wander\, dance\, listen\, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. \nPack a picnic rug\, browse the Artist Market\, meet the community\, and settle in for a wonderful day beneath the trees. The Garden Party remains exactly what it has always been: a celebration of place\, people and the joy of coming together. \n  \nThis performance of Thompson’s Foundry Band is being sponsored by the family of the late Yui Kwong Mak in his memory. During Mak’s time studying engineering at Castlemaine Technical College in the early 1960s\, Mak developed a lifelong admiration for the Band.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/closing-day-garden-party/
LOCATION:Castlemaine Botanical Gardens\, 2 Walker St\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Families,Free Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CSF17_DonGardenPartyCrowds_CareyShane20170326_030.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T160000
DTSTAMP:20260211T022205Z
CREATED:20251027T033651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T022205Z
UID:10002599-1774782000-1774800000@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Orchestra of Extinction
DESCRIPTION:Orchestra of Extinction is a long term project in which Forest Keegel and her collaborator sound artist Amanda King explore the habitat of threatened species. During immersive field trips they gather audio visual material that encapsulates each habitat as well as environmental traces such as plant saps\, beeswax\, soil and leaves. What they discover is then collated and housed in modified old radiogram cabinets\, encrusted with habitat residues\, emitting signals of sound and light to elusively represent each disappearing species. Each cabinet becomes an archive; forming a record of what King and Keegel have learnt through research\, time walking\, observing and documenting as well as connecting and speaking with scientists and local experts. \nThis contemporary interpretation of a Cabinet of Curiosities or Wunderkammer\, highlights the vulnerability of threatened species and juxtaposes ‘recorded habitats’ within the historic Colonial house setting\, of one of the oldest homes in Castlemaine Tutes Cottage.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/orchestra-of-extinction/2026-03-29/
LOCATION:Tute’s Cottage\, 29 Greenhill Avenue\, 29 Greenhill Road\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Free Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Keegel_-Forest_Orchestra-of-Extinction_JUL6551_juliemillowick-20-Oct-2022-adjust-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T090000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260329T170000
DTSTAMP:20260311T030221Z
CREATED:20251028T032055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T030221Z
UID:10000506-1774774800-1774803600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:The Australian Archive of Play Memories
DESCRIPTION:We are born with an innate drive to play. Ask someone to remember how they played as a child and it’s like unlocking a cupboard full of treasures and surprises. Play is necessary to lead a balanced life\, yet as the pace of daily life accelerates\, we are playing less – both as children and as adults. \nPhotographer Marylou Verberne began talking with people about play to understand how childhood is changing. Her “Australian Archive of Play Memories” is an ongoing project comprising photographic portraits of Australians\, recorded interviews and play memory maps. The Creative Series is a special festival commission that presents photographic portraits of local creatives displayed alongside their play memory maps. \nAs we remember how and where we played as children\, what else do we discover about ourselves? What surprises are in store for us? Encounter the play memories of others\, be inspired to recall your own. \nSixteen photographic portraits by Marylou Verberne featuring local creatives.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/the-australian-archive-of-play-memories/2026-03-29/
LOCATION:Castlemaine Market Building\, 44 Mostyn St\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Free Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/play-Memories-Kyan-and-Dion-worked.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T210000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T230000
DTSTAMP:20260323T042136Z
CREATED:20251027T051129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T042136Z
UID:10000022-1774731600-1774738800@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:LUX AETERNA - ETERNAL LIGHT
DESCRIPTION:Presented by the Bendigo Chamber Choir\, Lux Aeterna — Eternal Light is a choral meditation on hope\, loss and transcendence. Performed entirely by candlelight\, the program moves through key choral works from the 20th Century — all deeply embedded in sacred music traditions — exploring how voices can illuminate darkness. The concert’s centerpiece\, Lux Aeterna by Lauridsen\, draws its name from the Latin for “eternal light.” Its themes of solace and renewal feel especially poignant in the Festival’s 50th year — a reflection on continuity\, community and the quiet persistence of beauty. The Bendigo Chamber Choir’s artistry lies in their clarity and warmth of tone. Every phrase glows\, every harmony feels deliberate and deeply human. Held in Castlemaine’s historic Anglican church\, Eternal Light offers audiences a moment of stillness — a pause in the rush of the world to simply listen and breathe.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/bendigo-chamber-choir/
LOCATION:Anglican Church\, 8 Mostyn St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Music In Churches
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lux-Eterna_Kworked.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T210000
DTSTAMP:20260224T085047Z
CREATED:20251028T034141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T085047Z
UID:10000035-1774726200-1774731600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Grace Petrie (UK) and The Maes
DESCRIPTION:CANCELLATION\n\nWe regret to advise that the special Festival performance bringing Grace Petrie together with The Maes sadly can no longer go ahead. \nGrace Petrie’s larger Australian tour has also been cancelled and will now take place in 2027.  \nAll ticket holders will receive an automatic refund via Ferve to their original payment method. Please allow several business days for processing.\n\n \n\nTwo beloved acts of the contemporary folk scene share the stage for an unforgettable evening of harmony\, storytelling and spirit. Grace Petrie\, the British singer-songwriter known for her wit\, warmth and protest songs\, will be joined by the Australian sister duo The Maes — celebrated for their luminous harmonies and emotionally rich songwriting. Grace first saw The Maes perform at Woodford Folk Festival in 2023 and invited them to join her on her 2025 UK tour\, forging a friendship and musical connection that comes together in this special Festival concert. Together they craft an evening that moves effortlessly from the political to the deeply personal. Expect songs that comfort and confront in equal measure — tender ballads\, fiery anthems\, and the unguarded humour that defines both artists. For folk lovers and first-timers alike\, this double headline show is a celebration of resilience and heart — proof that music\, at its core\, is still about connection.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/grace-petrie-and-the-maes/
LOCATION:Theatre Royal\, 30 Hargraves St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Grace-Petrie-and-maes22.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T210000
DTSTAMP:20260308T113810Z
CREATED:20251119T000727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260308T113810Z
UID:10000470-1774724400-1774731600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:It’s a kind of magic
DESCRIPTION:The Castlemaine Fringe Festival closes its wearable art exhibition with a dazzling runway show like no other. It’s A Kind Of Magic transforms the stage into a catwalk of creativity and chaos – a full-blown celebration of imagination\, design and performance featuring works by more than 30 local creatives. Artists\, designers and performers of all ages are invited to create and showcase wearable works that defy convention: sculptural dresses\, luminous headpieces\, moving installations and glittering reimaginings of everyday materials. Set to music and packed with personality\, the catwalk becomes a performance in itself – part theatre\, part fashion show\, all heart. It’s A Kind Of Magic is a love letter to Castlemaine’s creative community: bold\, colourful and utterly unique.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/its-a-kind-of-magic/
LOCATION:The Old Castlemaine Goal\, 36 Bowden Street\, Castlemaine
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ITs-A-KIND-OF-MAGIC.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T160000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T170000
DTSTAMP:20251214T101511Z
CREATED:20251027T044245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251214T101511Z
UID:10000456-1774713600-1774717200@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Awake Together: Poems of Life
DESCRIPTION:Awake Together: Poems of Life brings six acclaimed performers – five poets and one musician – into one of Castlemaine’s most unexpected settings: Thompson Family Funerals. It’s an intimate evening shaped by candour\, tenderness and the belief that poetry lands differently when the room itself carries memory. \nEach artist brings a strong connection to the region and to the craft of language. \nAndy Jackson\, born in Bendigo and living in Castlemaine since 2015\, reads with the insight that has defined his award-winning work\, including Human Looking\, winner of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Poetry. \nRachael Wenona Guy\, also a local since 2015\, brings work shaped by her collaborations Each Map of Scars (CSF 2017) and This House My Body\, as well as her collection The Hungry Air. \nEA Gleeson\, poet and funeral celebrant based in Kyneton\, offers poems informed by ritual\, care and decades of listening to families at pivotal moments. \nKevin Brophy AM\, brings a generous\, steady voice attuned to the subtleties of everyday experience. His latest collection of poetry is An Inventory of Longing (Whitmore Press\, 2025). \nIzzy Roberts-Orr – a poet and performance maker based in Blackwood – reads from Raw Salt\, her award-winning debut collection of elegies that excavate death and its aftermath\, tracing lineages both ancestral and intellectual. \nKavisha Mazzella AM – much-loved singer-songwriter\, composer and choir leader – adds a musical presence shaped by decades of performance and community leadership. \nHosting this event at Thompson Family Funerals – a place that has supported remembrance in the Mount Alexander region for more than sixty years – reframes the venue as a site of gathering rather than parting. Through poem and song\, the room becomes one of clarity\, connection and quietly shared beauty. Awake Together offers an evening of poetry and music that meets audiences where they are: honest\, tender and deeply human.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/awake-together-poems-of-life/2026-03-28/
LOCATION:Thompson Family Funerals\, 123 Mostyn St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Words & Ideas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Awake-Together-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T170000
DTSTAMP:20260326T011448Z
CREATED:20251028T000909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T011448Z
UID:10000452-1774706400-1774717200@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Life's 2 Short
DESCRIPTION:Created by Teamo Henderson and Deirdre Gibb\, Life’s 2 Short – Our Mums Are Dead is darkly funny\, heartbreakingly honest theatre that transforms grief into something strangely life-affirming. Through quick-witted dialogue\, music\, and irreverent humour\, the performance explores the strange social choreography of aging and mortality — how we grieve\, how we laugh when we shouldn’t\, and how life keeps happening even when everything’s fallen apart. Drawing from lived experience\, the artists navigate between absurdity and sincerity\, creating a show that feels like both confession and celebration. It’s deeply personal\, but unmistakably communal — an acknowledgment that mourning\, like joy\, is something we do best together. Underneath the humour sits something tender and true: an understanding that to talk about death is\, ultimately\, to talk about love. \n  \nPremiered at the 2025 Castlemaine Fringe Festival
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/lifes-too-short/2026-03-28/
LOCATION:Thompson Family Funerals\, 123 Mostyn St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lifes-too-short.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T150000
DTSTAMP:20260322T110514Z
CREATED:20251028T030911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T110514Z
UID:10000028-1774706400-1774710000@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Melbourne Georgian Choir
DESCRIPTION:The Melbourne Georgian Choir performs ancient polyphonic songs from the Caucasus Mountains — one of the world’s oldest continuous vocal traditions – celebrating of human connection\, harmony and the enduring vitality of folk song. The choir’s repertoire spans work songs\, ritual chants and joyous feasting tunes\, sung in harmonies that are raw\, earthy and utterly captivating. Guided by traditional Georgian singing masters\, the ensemble preserves and reimagines a sound that has survived for centuries through oral tradition alone. Presented in partnership with The Boite and performed as part of the Music in Churches series\, this concert transforms Castlemaine’s St Mary’s Church into resonant chamber of sound — transporting audiences from central Victoria to the valleys and villages of Georgia.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/melbourne-georgian-choir/
LOCATION:St Mary’s Hall\, 1/78 Hargraves St\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Music In Churches
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1.-_A257758.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T113000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T123000
DTSTAMP:20260121T011745Z
CREATED:20251027T234432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T011745Z
UID:10000465-1774697400-1774701000@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:The Boy and the Ball
DESCRIPTION:The Boy & The Ball is a tender\, wordless theatre experience created by Stephen Noonan. Designed for preschoolers aged 3-4 years\, the performance unfolds through movement and sound rather than dialogue – inviting young audiences to interpret the story through feeling and imagination. The show follows a boy and his beloved ball through moments of joy\, frustration and discovery\, gently exploring themes of friendship\, resilience and play. The performance transforms simple actions into profound gestures. Presented at the Goods Shed\, The Boy & The Ball offers space for stillness and wonder in a world that rarely slows down. It’s theatre that speaks across generations: quiet\, poetic and full of heart. Exquisitely nuanced to engage young audiences in storytelling wonder.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/the-bo-and-the-ball/2026-03-28/2/
LOCATION:The Goods Shed\, 21 Kennedy St\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Families,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Boy-with-the-Ball.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T170000
DTSTAMP:20260317T031932Z
CREATED:20251201T035521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T031932Z
UID:10004178-1774695600-1774717200@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:The Art of Making PechaKucha
DESCRIPTION:PechaKucha is a global storytelling platform that connects people – their ideas and inspirations\, creative thoughts and processes. Created in Japan in 2003 by renowned architects\, Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham\, PechaKucha has a slide show format of 20 images\, shown for 20 secs each – it’s non-stop and you’ve got 400 seconds to tell your story\, with visuals guiding the way. \nRolling on the hour in the upstairs lounge at Shedshaker\, you will be treated to six visually engaging sessions with facilitators Hayley West\, Madeleine McClelland and Ella Hughes. In this informal\, relaxed atmosphere people can explore creative connections\, pilot new ideas and find inspiration. \nThe Art of Attention   11am – 12pm\n  Melinda Jane\n  Catherine Pilgrim\n  Chris Guest\nThe Art of Abstraction   12– 1pm\n  Diana Orinda-Burns\n  Roz Avent\n  Eva Miller + Michael Rigg + Richard Hollis – Collaboration\nThe Art of Print   1 – 2pm\n  Mike Wolfe\n  Jinette de Gooijer\n  Castlemaine Press – Virginia Harkin\nThe Art of Form   2 – 3pm\n  Ella Hughes\n  Sollai Cartwright\n  Jody Galvin\nThe Art of Reflection   3 – 4pm\n  Hayley West\n  Darron Davies\n  Eliza Tree\nThe Art of Substance   4 – 5pm\n  Ann Ferguson\n  Madeleine McClelland
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/the-art-of-making-pechakucha/
LOCATION:Taproom – Shedshaker Brewing\, 9 Walker Street\, Castlemaine\, Vic\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Free Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01_PechaKucha-Image-TiffanyRaae_Photo-Piper-Albrecht-@piperalbrecht.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T160000
DTSTAMP:20260106T011054Z
CREATED:20251128T225736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T011054Z
UID:10004444-1774695600-1774713600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:It's A Kind of Wonder
DESCRIPTION:The Castlemaine Fringe Festival brings its signature creativity to the State Festival with It’s A Kind of Wonder – a wearable art exhibition that transforms fashion into fantasy. Curated by Jody Galvin\, Azzy Jay\, Kya Moore\, Ellen Doyle\, Madeleine Somers\, Martin John Lee\, Andi Herman\, Melissa Clark\, Michelle Newton\, and Kaz McMullan\, the exhibition showcases handmade works that are bold\, playful and unapologetically individual. Each piece redefines what it means to wear art – from sculptural headpieces to textile experiments that blur the line between costume and concept. The result is an explosion of colour\, craft and character\, true to Castlemaine’s reputation as a creative melting pot. It’s A Kind of Wonder is an invitation to revel in the weird and the wonderful – to see the human body not just as a canvas\, but as a living artwork. \n 
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/its-a-kind-of-wonder-2/2026-03-28/
LOCATION:Lot19\, McShanag Drive\, Castlemaine\, Vic\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art & Design
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Its-a-kind-of-wonder-image_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260328T160000
DTSTAMP:20251204T005429Z
CREATED:20251110T022705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251204T005429Z
UID:10000431-1774695600-1774713600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:MIX IT UP: all musics - no limits
DESCRIPTION:MIX IT UP all musics – no limits\, produced by Punctum\, invites musicians\, composers\, and sonic explorers to a day-long studio/workshop in improvisation\, experimentation\, and sound making with the inimitable multi-instrumentalists of Aryo Seno Ensemble — Aryo Hall\, Zoë Barry\, Justin Marshall & Kirri Büchler. \nIt’s hands-on\, upbeat\, and welcomes musicians of all stages and traditions for collaborations that can shift practice in subtle (and sometimes seismic) ways. \nBring your instrument\, stay for the sonic adventure. Light lunch and refreshments supplied. \nMIX IT UP will be followed in the evening by a premiere concert of the Aryo Seno Ensemble. \nBOOK HERE
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/mix-it-up-all-musics-no-limit/
LOCATION:Uniting Church\, 24 Lyttleton Street\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FieldsOfPractice2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260327T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260327T203000
DTSTAMP:20260322T110416Z
CREATED:20251027T050334Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T110416Z
UID:10000021-1774641600-1774643400@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Grass with Live Accompaniment by Zöj
DESCRIPTION:Iranian-Australian duo ZÖJ — composer and kamancheh player Gelareh Pour and drummer Brian O’Dwyer — present a breathtaking live score to Grass\, the 1925 silent film chronicling the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe’s epic migration through the mountains of Iran. Through ZÖJ’s haunting instrumentation\, the film’s black-and-white imagery is reborn with new intensity. Pour’s kamancheh weaves melodies of longing and endurance\, while O’Dwyer’s percussion evokes the earth itself — trudging footsteps\, rushing rivers\, the heartbeat of survival. This is not mere accompaniment but re-interpretation: a contemporary conversation between image\, sound and heritage. Grass becomes a reflection on movement\, displacement and the fragile relationship between people and land — resonating deeply with global stories of today. Presented in partnership with CDoc\, this performance offers both historical rediscovery and present-tense urgency — proof that music can breathe new energy into archives of endurance.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/grass-with-live-accompaniment-by-zoj/
LOCATION:Theatre Royal\, 30 Hargraves St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Film,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ZOJ-and-GRASS.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260327T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260327T180000
DTSTAMP:20260325T203533Z
CREATED:20251028T034118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T203533Z
UID:10000034-1774634400-1774634400@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Maryam Rahmani
DESCRIPTION:Iranian-born\, Adelaide-based artist Maryam Rahmani brings her hauntingly beautiful fusion of Persian classical music\, contemporary composition and improvisation to Castlemaine. A master of the Santur (hammered dulcimer)\, Rahmani’s playing is deeply expressive — weaving traditional motifs with spontaneous exploration. Her performances are both virtuosic and vulnerable\, marked by moments of meditative stillness. Through her music\, Rahmani carries forward cultural memory while carving her own contemporary voice within it. Each performance is an act of cross cultural translation and transformation — bridging distance\, language and time. This Music in Exile partnership\, performed within the Music in Churches series\, offers a rare chance to hear one of Australia’s most distinctive musicians in an intimate acoustic setting.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/maryam-rahmani/
LOCATION:Uniting Church\, 24 Lyttleton Street\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Music In Churches
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Maryan-Rahmani_NEW.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T160000
DTSTAMP:20260121T011713Z
CREATED:20251028T032600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T011713Z
UID:10000451-1774188000-1774195200@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Someone in the Dark
DESCRIPTION:Created by Black Hole Theatre\, Someone in the Dark is an immersive adventure for children and families – a gently spooky\, wonder-filled performance about facing fears and finding courage. Set in the wild and designed to be experienced as a small group journey\, the work combines puppetry\, soundscape\, and visual storytelling. Children step into a mysterious world guided by light\, shadow and imagination\, where bravery means curiosity rather than confrontation. \nDeveloped with care and creativity\, Someone in the Dark offers young audiences a rare theatrical experience – one that invites them to explore uncertainty safely\, supported by skilled performers who understand the power of play.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/someone-in-the-dark/2026-03-22/3/
LOCATION:The Goods Shed\, 21 Kennedy St\, Castlemaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Families,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Somewhere-in-the-Dark.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T150000
DTSTAMP:20260225T011627Z
CREATED:20251021T062038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T011627Z
UID:10000007-1774188000-1774191600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Windborne (USA)
DESCRIPTION:Internationally acclaimed vocal quartet Windborne bring their extraordinary harmonies and social conscience to Castlemaine. Hailed by The Guardian as “the most exciting vocal group in a generation\,” Windborne’s singing is rooted in folk traditions from around the world — layered\, resonant and alive with purpose. Their repertoire moves seamlessly from Appalachian ballads to songs of protest\, labour and love. What unites it all is their sound: rich four-part harmony sung with both technical precision and heartfelt conviction. After 25 years of studying polyphonic music from around the world Windborne brings impeccable skill\, vibrant onstage energy and a vocal blend that is only possible with decades of friendship. Known for their deep engagement with history and activism\, Windborne connect past and present through the power of collective voice. In an age of division\, their music feels urgent and healing — a reminder that harmony is more than a musical idea; it’s a way of being together.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/windborne/
LOCATION:Anglican Church\, 8 Mostyn St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Music In Churches
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Windborne.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T123000
DTSTAMP:20251215T031245Z
CREATED:20251201T041323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T031245Z
UID:10004179-1774175400-1774182600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Printmaking 101 - Demonstration
DESCRIPTION:Castlemaine Press is a community access printmaking studio with a membership of over 70 artists including both renowned and emerging printmakers\, working across all mediums. Set within the stimulating surrounds of Lot 19\, this two hour event will showcase the diverse range of printmaking techniques – woodblock\, linocut\, collagraph\, etching\, monotypes and more. Meet and talk with member artists who are on different points of their journey and are passionate about expressing artistic intentions through printmaking. \nA wonderful opportunity to discover new working methods and how the Castlemaine Press can be used for individual\, collaborative and development purposes.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/printmaking-101/
LOCATION:Lot19\, McShanag Drive\, Castlemaine\, Vic\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Free Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image_Castlemaine-Press.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T081500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260322T160000
DTSTAMP:20260106T010928Z
CREATED:20251030T233803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T010928Z
UID:10000413-1774167300-1774195200@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Regional Dance Summit
DESCRIPTION:Experience a full day of dance\, connection and creativity at the Regional Dance Summit\, as part of the Castlemaine State Festival! \nBringing Victoria’s regional dance community together to move\, learn and celebrate\, the Summit welcomes dancers of all ages and stages of their journey. From a young dancer dreaming big\, to an adult ready to step into (or back into) dance\, and teachers or studio owners looking for fresh ideas – there’s a tailored program / workshop experience for everyone. \nYouth Dance – Train with some of Victoria’s top teaching artists\, meet peers from across Victoria\, and experience high quality workshop and audition environments.\nAdult Dance – Join fun\, welcoming classes for beginners and beyond. No experience needed\, just a love of movement.\nProfessional Development – A full day of workshops and discussions for teachers\, studio owners and educators\, exploring creative practice\, upskilling\, connection with the community and future pathways. \nThe Regional Dance Summit connects dancers\, professionals and educators with leading artists from across Victoria. Come along and get excited about dance\, there’s ‘summit’ for everyone! \nBOOK HERE
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/regional-dance-summit/
LOCATION:Movement Zone – Etty Street Studios\, 35 Etty Street\, Castlmaine\, VIC\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Performance,Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/RDS-Landscape-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260321T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260321T213000
DTSTAMP:20260319T103156Z
CREATED:20251030T234801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T103156Z
UID:10000419-1774123200-1774128600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Man Out Of Time
DESCRIPTION:Few voices cut as deep into Australian rock as Broderick Smith’s — storyteller\, rebel\, poet\, and heart of The Dingoes. Man Out of Time: The Broderick Smith Songbook gathers his closest collaborators and admirers to reinterpret his catalogue with reverence and raw energy. \nAcross two stirring sets\, musicians revisit songs that shaped generations — “Boy on the Run”\, “Shine A Light”\, “Ruby In The Snow” — weaving anecdotes and archival reflections through the performance. The evening honours both the power and fragility of an artist who gave everything to the stage. This isn’t nostalgia; it’s renewal. \nEach performer brings their own voice to Brod’s stories of outlaws\, dreamers and the stubborn hope that defines regional life. Expect grit\, humour and tenderness in equal measure — a reminder that music\, like memory\, never really fades. \nLineup: \n\nBrett Garsed – guitar\nFreya Josephine Hollick – vocals/guitar\nIan Collard – vocals/harp/guitar\nKevin Bennett – vocals/guitar\nLisa Miller – vocals\nRichard Tankard – keyboards/vocals\nJeremy Alsop – bass\nTony Floyd – drums\n\nCreative Team: \n\nDoug Falconer – Creative Director\nLinda Sproul – Producer\nNigel MacLean – Music Director/guest violin\nRobyn Lewis – Producer
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/man-out-of-time/
LOCATION:Theatre Royal\, 30 Hargraves St\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Broderick-Smith.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260321T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260321T190000
DTSTAMP:20260301T105639Z
CREATED:20251028T002043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260301T105639Z
UID:10000026-1774116000-1774119600@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Parvyn Singh & Josh Bennett
DESCRIPTION:Vocalist Parvyn Singh and multi-instrumentalist Josh Bennett unite in an exquisite concert blending Indian classical\, folk and contemporary influences. Together they create a sound that is as intimate as it is expansive — shimmering sitar\, soulful voice\, hypnotic rhythm. Longtime collaborators on stage and in life\, Parvyn and Josh are renowned for their effortless interplay and emotional honesty. Their performances move between meditative ragas and uplifting folk tunes\, inviting listeners into a shared space of stillness and joy. Presented as part of the Festival’s Music in Churches series\, this concert finds new resonance within the acoustically rich Holy Trinity Church Maldon — a space built for reverence and connection. The result is music that transcends genre and language\, guided by deep musicianship and a sense of shared wonder.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/parvyn-singh-josh-bennett/
LOCATION:Holy Trinity Anglican Church\, Maldon\, 50 High Street\, Maldon\, VIC\, 3463\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Music In Churches
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Parvyn-Singh-and-josh-Bennett.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260321T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260321T170000
DTSTAMP:20251221T235742Z
CREATED:20251027T043157Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T235742Z
UID:10000018-1774101600-1774112400@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:Marshall McGuire & Genevieve Lacey
DESCRIPTION:Two of Australia’s most revered musicians — harpist Marshall McGuire and recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey — reunite for Bower Birds\, a performance of intimate conversation between strings and breath. The pair\, long-time collaborators\, bring decades of shared history to the stage\, performing music that flutters between Baroque delicacy and contemporary invention. Each piece feels like a small offering — a fragment gathered for its colour\, texture or memory. McGuire and Lacey’s synergy is effortless: both are known for taking their instruments beyond expectation\, pairing exquisite precision with warmth and wit. “Playing with Genevieve\,” McGuire once said\, “feels like walking into sunlight — the dialogue is never rehearsed\, only revealed.” Bower Birds is music as friendship\, craftsmanship and quiet daring. Presented within the serene acoustics of Castlemaine Uniting Church\, this concert promises a meditative journey through centuries of composition\, made new in every moment of breath and pluck.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/marshall-mcguire-genevieve-lacey/
LOCATION:Uniting Church\, 24 Lyttleton Street\, Castlemaine\, Victoria\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Music,Music In Churches
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Gregory-Lorenzutti-Bower-McGuire-_-Lacey.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251031T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251031T235900
DTSTAMP:20251118T023112Z
CREATED:20251030T234200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T023112Z
UID:10000414-1761868800-1761955140@castlemainefestival.com.au
SUMMARY:What on earth are you doing?
DESCRIPTION:Artist PD Speed Date Workshop.
URL:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/event/what-on-earth-are-you-doing/
LOCATION:Lot19\, McShanag Drive\, Castlemaine\, Vic\, 3450\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://castlemainefestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/surprise-BLACK.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR