Best events in regional Victoria to visit after the bushfires
Bushfires haven’t stopped a host of events across regional Victoria, from Mallacoota’s Wild Harvest Seafood to Corryong’s Man From Snowy River festival.
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Regional Victoria is hurting after the bushfires and needs your help.
A great way to support communities directly impacted as well as towns across the state is by taking a road trip — because Regional Victoria remains open for business.
This week heraldsun.com.au celebrates the fantastic places to eat, camp and even take the dog for a hike around our great state. These specials are free for all to read.
To support our newsroom and local journalism, subscribe to the Herald Sun.
Locals and tourists may be cautious about visiting regional towns in the wake of Victoria’s devastating bushfires.
But that doesn’t mean these areas are unsafe to visit.
Many upcoming events in fire-affected and regional towns will still go ahead, despite extreme weather cancelling many events in recent weeks like Fall’s Festival in Lorne on New Year’s Eve.
Corryong’s Man from Snowy River Festival has been confirmed for April 2-5 this year.
The northeastern regional Victorian community was one of the hardest hit by the bushfires.
All festival profits will go towards the community’s recovery efforts.
Meanwhile Mallacoota’s Wild Harvest Seafood Festival on April 3-5 will also go ahead, promoting the Wilderness Coast’s best seafood, produce, wine and beer.
Thousands of people in the Far East Gippsland town retreated to the beach when the flames and smoke created ‘apocalyptic’ conditions.
Victorians are encouraged to visit these small regional communities in the coming weeks to help rebuild the local economy.
Here’s some upcoming regional events to put in your calendar.
Always check local conditions before travelling.
EAST GIPPSLAND
Lakes Entrance
15 March
Tinamba Food and Wine Festival
Tinamba
19 April
Boolarra
29 February
Mirboo
9 Feb
Meeniyan
15 February
BEST OF THE REST
BALLARAT/ DAYLESFORD
Ballarat
15 Feb
Ballarat
29-31 May
Drummond
21 March
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
7-9 March
Daylesford
6-8 March
Ballarat
29 February
Rock Ballarat Rock n Roll Rockabilly Festival
Ballarat
7-9 February
Ballarat
Until 8 March
BENDIGO/ CENTRAL VICTORIA
Wahgunyah
14 February, 6 March, 9 April
Bendigo Craft Beer and Cider Festival
Bendigo
14 March
Bendigo
7-8 March
Newstead
24-27 January
New Gisborne
14 March
Art in the Vines – Sculpture in Motion
Newham
Until 23 February
GEELONG
Geelong Art Gallery
30 May – 16 August
Shakespeare in the Vines – Macbeth Leura Park
Curlewis
14 February
Geelong
Every Friday evening in February
Cadel Evens Great Ocean Road Race
Geelong – Barwon Heads – Torquay, Eastern Beach Road, Geelong
30 January – 2 February
Geelong
25-27 January
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 55
Geelong
Until 26 April
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Mornington Racecourse
28 March
Flinders
1 March
Red Hill
7 March
Red Hill
23 February
Red Hill
26 January
Mornington Racecourse
24 January
Sunday sessions at the springs – live and local
Fingal
Until 1 March
PHILLIP ISLAND
Cowes
20-23 July
Ventnor
28 February – 1 March
Inverloch Classic Wooden Dingy Regatta
Inverloch
25-27 January
27th International Island Classic
Ventnor
24-26 January
Live Music at the Purple Hen Winery
Rhyll
24,31 January
Summerlands
Until 26 April
Paynesville
28 Feb – 1 March
GRAMPIANS/ PYRENEES
Great Western Races – Seppelt Enclosure
Great Western
26 January
Halls Gap
28-29 February
Halls Gap
24 May
Pyrenees Unearthed Wine and Food Festival
Pyrenees
18 April
Dunkeld
28 March
Halls Gap
2-3 May
GREAT OCEAN ROAD/ OTWAYS
Great Ocean Road Running Festival
Apollo Bay
16-17 May
Torquay
11 April
Bells Beach
3-13 April
Gellibrand River Blues and Blueberry Festival
Gellibrand
29 February – 1 March
Macarthur
29 February
Apollo Bay
14-16 February
7-9 February
Port Fairy
Portland
25-26 January
HIGH COUNTRY
King Valley
6-7 June
Bright
7-9 May
Region-wide
May (dates TBC)
Benalla
3-5 April
Rutherglen
7-8 March
Bright
24 April – 3 May
MURRAY RIVER
Gateway Island
21 March
North East Food and Wine Festival
West Wodonga
14 March
Swan Hill Region Food and Wine Festival Cruise
Swan Hill
6 March
MALLEE REGION
Horsham
1 March
MORE NEWS:
BEST REGIONAL VICTORIAN RESTAURANT
CAMPSITES THAT WON’T COST A CENT
YARRA VALLEY/DANDENONG RANGES
Yarra Glen
18-19 April
Tesserlaar Kabloom Festival of Flowers
Silvan
29 March – 18 April
Coldstream
28 March
Warburton
13-15 March
Cloudehill Gardens Summer Twilight Events Series – Opera in the Garden
Olinda
25 January
READ MORE IN THIS SERIES:
BEST RESTAURANTS IN REGIONAL VICTORIA
PLACES TO TAKE THE DOG IN REGIONAL VICTORIA
23 GREAT COUNTRY PUBS TO VISIT