Major events
Mildura has a busy calendar of arts, gourmet, sporting and musical events. Find out about some annual events you can't afford to miss:
Wintersun Festival
13-16 August
An extended weekend of activities are now being planned for cars, rockers, dancers and all the Wintersun crowd. Mildura boasts more Winter Sun than any other town in Australia so it seems the perfect spot to go. You can expect cruises to vineyards, cruises on the road and the beautiful River Murray. We will have a mix of free entertainment in the streets, clubs and hotels as well as some ticketed events.
With events in Mildura and Wentworth now starting to take shape we hope to announce a major guest artist very soon to headline.
Location: Various
Tour of the Murray River
29 August-5 September
The tour has grown into Australia's premier road cycling classic. The Tour of the Murray River is more than just a bike race. It is a regional community event.
Sunday 29: Echuca to Rochester
Monday 30: Echuca/Moama
Tuesday 31: Swan Hill/Lake Boga
Wednesday 1: Swan Hill to Nyah West/Nyah West to Manangatang
Thursday 2: Robinval/Euston
Friday 3: Ouyen (Great Australian Vanilla Slice Competition)/Ouyen/Patchewollock/Ouyen
Saturday 4: Merbein/Cardross
Sunday 5: Mildura
The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph
3 September
The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph in conjunction with the Tour of the Murray River Ouyn Criterium is a fantastic day. The day is full of street activities, stall, food vendors, and local traders as well as the all important Vanilla Slice Competition. Bakers from across Australia battle for the title of Best Vanilla Slice in the country and while the judging is happening you can enjoy all the free entertainment for all ages including childrens rides and face painting. There is music in the streets, patchwork displays and the Mallee Art Show to enjoy.
Location: Oke Street, Ouyen
Mildura Palimpsest
17-19 September
This year's Palimpsest Symposium '(to) give time to time' will explore the origins and continuing legacies of experimental art in Australia. Mildura has played a vital role in this history and will host 13 of Australia's most prominent Gallery Directors, Curators, writers and arts professionals who will devote the weekend to reviewing Mildura's contribution to the development of contemporary art. Alongside the Symposium six artists have been commissioned to create site-specific work investigating the Symposium's themes. The artworks will be placed in the Mildura landscape, sometimes alongside pieces still in place since the original triennials in the 60s and 70s.
Locations: Various
Mildura Country Music Festival
24 September-3 October
When Australian country music fans talk of the festival 'biggies', the Mildura Country Music Festival rates a mention alongside the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Gympie Muster as one of the big three.
Location: Various
Merbein Community Rodeo
9 October
An annual event growing in stature each year. Now in its 4th year. Events include: Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc, Open Bareback, Steer Riding for the juniors and Barrel Races for the female.
Location: No 1 Oval, Kenny Park, Merbein
MGMF Riverfest
20-22 October
BYO Chairs for outdoor concerts. A series of concerts encompassing many different styles and genres of gospel music. MGMF Riverfest embraces people of all ages bringing them together around music, food an other life entertainment. This is an alcohol and drug free event.
Location: Nowingi Place, Hugh King Drive
Mildura Jazz, Food & Wine Festival
29 October-1 November
The Mildura Jazz, Food & Wine Festival is a wellestablished event that has attracted many locals and visitors to the Mildura district over the past thirty years. The Festival takes place as an annual Spring-time event, presenting four days of round the clock jazz entertainment in popular clubs, bars and cafes, restaurants, churches, as well as street side and riverside venues-with feature events utilising Murray River settings and all events showcasing regional food and wine.
Location: Various
Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
3-6 November
In 1999 Stefano de Pieri and Bruce Chalmers along with Dr Rod Bonfiglioli, initiated the Sangiovese Awards and continued with the Australian Italian Wine Show in 2000. Following the success of these shows, the first Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show was held in Mildura in November 2001 with inaugural Chief of Judges, Tim White. The initial concept has evolved to include all alternative wine varieties (which are usually marginalised at mainstream shows) and now attracts over 600 entries from throughout Australia and New Zealand. The show aims to provide an alternative to the mainstream wine shows, a dedicated forum for alternative or emerging wine varieties and to encourage alternative, more cutting edge judging procedures.
Locations: Various
Willowfest
27-30 December
An annual cricket carnival attracting participants, families and visitors to Sunraysia for an entertaining week of cricket events, recreation and holidays. This year there will be changes to the Willowfest "Whack" to encourage the general public to participate and be in the running for some handsome prizes. The new additions to the "Whack" are (a) hit a cricket ball to a designated spot (b) bowl a cricket ball with the fastest bowler being the winner.
Locations: Mildura and environs also Gol Gol and Dareton cricket arenas