As well as a plethora of exciting Music and Words & Ideas events, each Woodend Winter Arts Festival offers many events throughout the town which are free to attend, including our annual Fireworks & Entertainment show on Friday night. You can find details of these below and on our 2023 Program page.
FIREWORKS: FRIDAY 9 JUNE
5.00-8.00pm Food & Entertainment
5.15-5.35pm Young Voices of Macedon
5:40-6:00pm Taikokoro Inc. Japanese Drumming
6:05-6:25pm Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir
6.30pm Fireworks
The Woodend Winter Arts Festival will kick off with a vibrant display of fireworks at Buffalo Stadium. A regular fixture on the WWAF Program, this year’s promises to be bigger and better than ever before with free musical performances for all to enjoy.
The Young Voices of Macedon Choir start the evening, and Japanese drumming group Taikokoro will wow the crowd with their drumming skills before the Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir takes to the stage.
The event will then culminate with the fireworks, synchronised to popular classical music.
Various food trucks will also be onsite, providing plenty of tasty food options. This event promises to be a fun night out for all ages.
This free community event is made possible by the Vera Moore Foundation, Bendigo Bank Trentham and RT Edgar Real Estate.
HIGH STREET FESTA: SAT 10 JUNE
3.30-8.30pm Extended Shop Trading, Food Trucks, Street Organ
4.20-8.10pm Outdoor choir performances
5.00pm Projected Art Exhibition With Artwork By Mary Larnach-Jones
8.40pm Choral Big Sing
For the first time, on Saturday 10 June, Woodend Winter Arts Festival brings colour, light and sound into High Street by night with a projected art exhibition on the heritage buildings of Woodend, extended trading hours and musicians and song warming the winter’s night.
Artwork by local artist Mary Larnach-Jones will illuminate Woodend’s beloved facades.
Mary is best known for her vibrant still life studies, however she works in many other genres including, Italian fresco, murals, portraits and trompe l’oeil work.
Alongside the street festivities will be the Choral Marathon in the Community Centre Hall, showcasing choirs from across Victoria and a glorious range of choral talent.
At the end of the evening, hundreds of voices join together in song for our first combined Big Sing (8.40pm).
The High St Festa is sponsored by Visit Victoria, Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Australian National Choral Association.
BOOK SIGNINGS
Meet the authors, buy their latest book and get it signed by them. Book signings & Meet-the Authors will be taking place at Woodend Bookshop, 104 High Street, Woodend.
You’ve heard their presentation, now come across the bookshop to continue the discussion.
Sat 10 June, 2.15pm-2.45pm: Lauren Rickards, Jamie Button, Alan Finkel
Sun 11 June, 11.45am-12.15pm: Peter Doherty, Christine Keneally
Mon 12 June, 11.15am-11.45am: George Megalagenis, Sean Kelly, Sally Warhaft
Mon 12 June, 2.15pm-2.45pm: Jock Serong, Andrew Rule, Tom Griffiths, Don Watson
ART GALLERIES
MACEDON RANGES POTTERS
SATURDAY 10 – MONDAY 12 JUNE
10.00am – 4.00pm each day
2.00 – 4.00pm Saturday 10 June Meet the Artists
Woodend Community Hub, Cobaw Community Centre, Forest Street Woodend
The dedicated members of Macedon Ranges Potters are once again exhibiting their fine ceramic work at the Woodend Community Hub, Forest Street, Woodend during the Woodend Winter Arts Festival.
The fourteen strong members of this well renowned group have proudly shared over 30 years of creating and exhibiting their works together within the Macedon Ranges.
This passionate group of ceramic artists are currently decorating and choosing their very best work to display at this ever popular, beautifully presented exhibition.
The ceramic art pieces on display this year are made in a range of styles and using a variety of different clays and glazes to produce both functional and sculptural pieces.
Open each day from 10am-4pm with a ‘Meet the Artists’ on Saturday 10th June 2-4pm.
Admission is free for all to come along and experience this visual feast at this bright, warm and cosy venue.
THE GALLERY MT MACEDON
SATURDAY 10 – MONDAY 12 JUNE
10.00am – 4.00pm Saturday, Sunday & Monday
Woodend Neighbourhood House, 47 Forest St
Exhibition and workshops.
Artists at Work. Make Your Mark. You are invited to Look, Learn, Create.
Look at the quality work of our local arts collective. Learn how our members work by watching them demonstrate. Create your own art piece if you wish.
Visitors and children will be encouraged to ‘stamp’ their mark on the environment, creating cutouts of nature and wildlife.