Autumn events in Victoria’s Heartland
Autumn in Victoria’s Heartland arrives with a vibrant mix of festivals, performances and community celebrations. From Daylesford’s four‑day ChillOut Festival to the lively Harcourt Applefest, the season is packed with reasons to explore the region.
The much‑loved Lost Trades Fair makes its welcome return to the Macedon Ranges, while visitors can dive into everything from folk music at CresFest, to world‑class arts at the Castlemaine State Festival, literary celebrations at Clunes Booktown or heritage elegance at the Duneira Estate Victorian Ball.
Add to the mix the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, mountain biking action at Djuwang Baring, fun at The Great Trentham Spudfest and a feast of foodie and heritage events – and you’ve got a season overflowing with reasons to get out, explore and enjoy the region.
ChillOut Festival, Daylesford
From humble beginnings in 1997, ChillOut Festival has grown to become Australia’s largest and longest-running Queer Country Pride festival. The theme this year is "Planet Love." Expect four days of performances, music, theatre, drag, community events, and local food and wine over the Labour Day long weekend in the LGBTQIA+ capital of regional Victoria.
When: Friday 5 – Monday 9 March 2026 (Labour Day long weekend)
Where: Multiple venues throughout Daylesford and surrounds
Tickets: ChillOut includes a range of free and ticketed events, view the full program at chilloutfestival.com.au
Harcourt Applefest, Harcourt
Harcourt Applefest returns with its biggest, brightest celebration yet of the town’s iconic apple‑growing heritage – a meaningful moment as the community continues to recover from the January bushfires. More than 120 stalls will showcase local makers, produce, food and wine from favourites including Harcourt Apple Cider, Harcourt Valley Winery and Woodies Apples. Entertainment spans two stages, headlined by The Australian Women’s Choir featuring Wendy Stapleton. There will also be baking competitions, the ever‑popular apple pie eating contest, plenty of family friendly activities and the beloved Royalty of Applefest.
When: Saturday 7 March 2026
Where: James Park and surrounds, High Street, Harcourt
Tickets: Entry is $10 per adult, with 50% of the entrance fee going directly to the Harcourt CFA. Children enter for free. Tickets are available at the gate on arrival.
Australian Cider Day at Daylesford Cider
Daylesford Cider celebrates Australian Cider Day with two immersive orchard events on Saturday 7 March. Tour & Taste (10:45am–12:15pm) offers a guided orchard walk exploring heritage cider apples, followed by a premium cider-and-cheese tasting and an orchard‑to‑glass insight into harvest and fermentation. Orchard Sips (3:30pm–4:30pm) is a relaxed outdoor tasting held among the trees, with a casual talk on cider varieties and flavour.
When: Saturday 7 March 2026
Where: Daylesford Cider, 155 Dairy Flat Road, Musk
Duneira Estate Victorian Ball, Mount Macedon
Step back in time at the Duneira Estate Victorian Ball on Saturday 14 March, a one‑night‑only celebration marking the historic Mount Macedon mansion’s 150th birthday. For one evening, the estate transforms with lantern‑lit gardens, live period music and traditional dances, costumed hosts, immersive storytelling and full access to the grand interiors. Guests can enjoy Scottish dances, waltzes and quadrilles, plus an elegant supper. It’s a rare chance to experience true Victorian‑era glamour in an authentic heritage setting.
When: Saturday, 14 March 2026, from 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Where: Duneira Estate, 1 Officer Lane, Mount Macedon
Tickets: $250pp – includes a Victorian themed supper, wine, dancing and a horse drawn carriage ride.
An Evening with Kaz Cooke
Celebrate International Women's Day as Northern Books delivers 'Brave, Brilliant and Bonkers' with Kaz Cooke. Kaz Cooke has been the 'go to' advisor for women for many years and she’ll be chatting about how to cut through (in her words) 'the jungle of hard-sell advice via TikTok, Insta, fake AI, even faker celebrities, dodgy online info, mansplainers, mean girls and wacky wellness influencers.' Come along for some fun as well as the helpful stuff along the way. Kaz will be signing books and saying hello after the conversation.
When: Friday March 13th, 2026
Where: Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison Street, Kyneton, 3444
Fox Superflow® Creswick Gravity Enduro Race, Creswick
Pack your bike and grab your crew as gravity enduro racing returns to Creswick at its Djuwang Baring mountain bike trails. This high-energy three-day racing weekend kicks off with a massive day of junior racing at the Rocky Trail Academy, before shifting gears into the main event: the Fox Superflow® - Australia's most popular gravity enduro format. Beyond the tape, the event village will be buzzing with festival vibes, making it the perfect weekend getaway for families and riding crews.
When: Saturday, 14 March 2026, from 9am to 2pm
Where: Djuwang Baring Mountain Bike Park, Creswick
Castlemaine State Festival, Castlemaine
Castlemaine State Festival returns this March with a huge lineup of events, marking the Festival’s golden milestone with ten days of street parties, creativity, community and connection. With over 55 events, there is something for everyone: art lovers, live music fans, and those who like to get down and party in some of Australia’s most unique spaces: sweeping churches, Castlemaine’s charming autumn streets and gardens, grungy underground car parks and even Australia’s tiniest art gallery. Audiences can expect free and low‑cost events, adventurous programming, and a vibrant mix of local and visiting artists. The full program is available online.
When: 20–29 March, 2026
Where: Various locations, Castlemaine
Program and tickets: castlemainefestival.com.au
Clunes Booktown, Clunes
Clunes Booktown Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this March with a packed program themed around defiance and hope. More than 15,000 visitors are expected to fill the historic main street of Clunes, 36km north of Ballarat, for a vibrant weekend of books, authors, music and family activities. The festival features over 130 book stalls, a dedicated Kids Village, writers’ workshops and panels spanning crime, speculative fiction, romance, First Nations storytelling, playwriting and historical fiction, plus free entertainment across both days. Highlights include lifelong environmental activist Bob Brown, a session called HEAR ME ROAR on female characters in crime with Vikki Petraitis and Christian White, Miles Franklin winner Sofie Laguna, and the creators behind bestselling children's book series Real Pigeons.
When: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2026
Where: Multiple venues throughout Clunes
Tickets: View the full program at ticketing options at clunesbooktown.org.au
Run the Rock, Hanging Rock Reserve
Experience the thrill of Run the Rock, challenge yourself to the Half Marathon (22K), 13.5K, 5K or inspire the next generation of runners with the Kids 2K. Push your limits and chase your goals surrounded by beautiful nature. Enjoy the fun family activities and live entertainment in the event village post-race - then spend the rest of the day exploring the Macedon Ranges.
When: Saturday 21 March 2025
Where: Hanging Rock Reserve, Woodend
Lost Trades Fair, Hanging Rock
Experience the craft, skill, knowledge and enduring pursuit of hand-made excellence as lost arts, rare trades and heritage crafts are celebrated at Hanging Rock in the Macedon Ranges. Meet the makers, explore the rock, and witness over 1,000 combined years of experience through demonstrations and staged artisan presentations. Over 150 makers, including 11 international artists, will showcase skills from blacksmithing and stonemasonry to weaving, ceramics and glass. The Lost Trades Fair inspires visitors to consider sustainability and the longevity of what they use.
Where: Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges
When: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, 2026
Tickets: must be pre-purchased, on sale now at losttradesfair.com.au
Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival
Celebrate the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival throughout April, a month‑long showcase of food, nature and creativity less than an hour from Melbourne. Explore nine charming villages alive with seasonal colour as you enjoy foodie experiences, garden tours, creative workshops, farmers’ markets, walks and exhibitions. Follow the Festival’s Food & Drink Passport across the Pie & Tart, Edgy Veg and Tipple Trails to win prizes, or unlock the Treasure Trail to discover stunning picnic spots and collect clues.
When: Wednesday 1 to Thursday 30 April 2026
Where: Across the nine villages of the Macedon Ranges
Maldon Easter Fair, Maldon
The Maldon Easter Fair, one of Australia’s oldest – dating back to 1878, returns across the Easter long weekend with four days of classic country festivities. Program highlights include the Thursday night Scone Bake Competition and a torchlight procession and dancing in the streets after dark on Easter Saturday. Other highlights across the weekend include Easter Market Day, the Vintage Machinery Rally, the Hole‑in‑One competition, billycart racing, quilt show and a wheelbarrow raffle. It all culminates on Easter Monday with the beloved Grand Parade and egg‑tossing in Maldon’s historic town centre.
When: Thursday 2 to Monday 6 April 2026
Where: Various locations in Maldon
CresFest, Creswick
CresFest, the amazing roots and folk music festival, brings three days of dance and music in the beautiful heritage town of Creswick. Celebrating its 5th year in 2026, CresFest offers three immersive days of folk, roots and world music, where international artists, Australian legends, First Nations voices and emerging performers share stages in intimate heritage venues, creating a festival experience that is deeply inclusive and welcoming.
When: Friday 10 to Sunday 12 April 2026
Where: Multiple venues around Creswick
Tickets: on sale now at cresfest.com.au
Alice in Wonderland, Kryal Castle
Experience the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland, brought to life at Kryal Castle throughout the autumn school holidays! Meet all of your favourite characters, including the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. Join the Mad Hatter’s Hat Parade, and enjoy a variety of Alice in Wonderland themed activities in this action-packed program.
When: Tuesday 7 to Sunday 19 April, 2026
Where: Kryal Castle, 121 Forbes Road, Leigh Creek
Shifty Fifty Creswick, Djuwang Baring
Creswick debuts as a new 2026 venue for the Shifty Fifty, delivering an adrenaline‑charged course at one of Victoria’s premier mountain bike destinations. Riders will tackle technical singletrack, forest roads and flowy sections that test skill, endurance and focus, with eMTBs welcome. The Shifty Shorty loop features across all categories, while Shifty Fifty racers take on two scenic, sandy laps. With hot food, coffee and great energy in the event village, entries are open online until 9:45am on race day, with on‑day registration also available.
When: Sunday 12 April
Where: Djuwang Baring Mountain Bike Park, Creswick
bighillevents.com.au/events/shifty-fifty-rd-2-creswick-fifty
Hungarian Folk Festival, Castlemaine
FONO Hungarian Dance Group teams up with Buda Castlemaine to deliver the Hungarian Folk Festival 2026, featuring vibrant folk dance performances, live Vardos Trio music and an interactive Dance House led by choreographers from Budapest. Visitors can also enjoy authentic Hungarian foods including gulyás cooked over an open fire and freshly made lángos, alongside folk art activities, free activities for kids, market stalls, a silversmith showcase honouring Ernest Leviny, and guided tours of the historic home.
When: Saturday 18 April 2026, from 11am-4pm
Where: Buda Historic Home and Garden, 42 Hunter St, Castlemaine
Mt Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service, Mount Macedon
Each Anzac Day, the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross, a striking 21m high monument near the summit of Mount Macedon, provides a spectacular, evocative setting for one of the largest dawn services in Victoria. The theme for 2026 will be Passing the Torch, Enduring Bonds, reflecting the way remembrance and service is carried forward by new generations, while recognising the unbreakable connections between those who have served and sacrificed.
When: Saturday 25 April, 2026
Where: Cameron Drive, Mount Macedon - access to the Dawn Service is via bus only. Attendees must book a seat on one of the free bus services that operates from each township across the Macedon Ranges and Sunbury. Alternatively, a continuous shuttle service operates from Tony Clarke Reserve - Waterfalls Road, Macedon from 4:15am. Bookings are not required for this shuttle service.
The Great Trentham Spudfest, Trentham
The tiny township of Trentham celebrates its long history of potato growing with The Great Trentham Spudfest, a community-led festival bringing together local potato growers, artisans, music, food vendors, and history to showcase the region's finest offerings across one weekend. At its heart, the festival brings together our local potato growers, talented artisans, and mouth-watering food vendors to share their goods, their stories, and their love of all things spud. It’s all about community spirit, good vibes, and bringing the people of Trentham (and friends from far and wide) together for a truly spud-tacular time.
When: Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May 2026
Where: Various venues throughout Trentham and surrounds
National Trust Anderson’s Mill Heritage Weekend, Smeaton
The eighth National Trust Anderson's Mill Heritage Weekend showcases Anderson's Mill and the arts, crafts and old trades of an earlier era. Each year thousands of visitors come to the Anderson's Mill site, where the waterwheel runs over the weekend to learn more about this historic mill. The festive atmosphere includes food and coffee. This volunteer‑run, free event raises awareness and support for the mill’s ongoing restoration.
When: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May 2026
Where: Anderson’s Mill, Elizabeth Street, Smeaton
Pretty Much – People and Stories from real people by Andy Ferg at Central Goldfields Art Gallery
Andy Ferg crosses paths with fascinating characters from every corner of life. From poets and bushmen to artists and a forensic scientist, everyone he meets carries a story worth hearing… pretty much. His mission is simple: to shine a light on people who have no idea just how special they are. On disolay at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, this is an exhibition of painted portraits and recorded video interviews.
When: on display until 17 May 2026
Where: Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough