The 171st Castlemaine & District Agricultural Show once again delighted crowds at the Camp Reserve last Friday and Saturday.
After a late start to due to some hold ups with road closures the beloved show parade got underway with the Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band proudly led parade entrants to the Camp Reserve.
Among the parade entries were the Mt Alexander Knitting Nannas, the YIMBY composting crew, Castlemaine Scouts and Guides, Windarring, Busy Bees Childcare, Campbells Creek Primary School and Guildford Campus with a fantastic halloween entry, local emergency service personnel, local trucking companies and members of our local classic car and hot rod community just to name a few.
At the showgrounds perfect conditions greeted show-goers who enjoyed the rides, sideshows and carnival festivities, the excitement of the Midland Axeman’s Association woodchop, and the wonderful pavilion displays with everything from fleece to flowers and art and craft to cookery on show.
The evening was capped off with a stunning fireworks display.
On Saturday, the fun continued with show day events and displays, including free creative activities for the kids with the team from ‘Fural’ and the Grubby Boots Animal Farm.
BREAKING: Due to inclement weather predicted tomorrow, Saturday November 8 the Castlemaine Pride Picnic has been relocated to a new venue at The Goods Shed in Kennedy Street, Castlemaine.
The event will once again take place between 11am and 4pm.
Get ready for a vibrant day of connection, celebration and community on Djaara Country.
There will be endless activities throughout the day to keep you entertained. Get ready for soulful tunes from Wild Gloriosa, boot scootin’ fun with Country Struts, Castlemaine Circus performances, interactive workshops and Sunset Jam and Shanti Steventon live! Strut your style or cheer on the stars at the Gender Affirming catwalk and you won’t want to miss the Iconic Dog Show, a crowd favourite!
Of course, there will be plenty of food and drink at the market stalls and food trucks.
The Castlemaine Secondary College Pride Crew and Over the Rainbow youth groups will be there, providing even more fun and entertainment.
Thanks to the generosity of The Good Op Shop, there will also be a Fierce & Free clothing stall, helping you play, express yourself, and find a fabulous new outfit for the fun.
Castlemaine Pride committee member Cristina Pantazis said Pride has always been more than a party – it’s solidarity in action.
“It’s about showing up across generations, identities, and culture to say: you belong here,” Cristina said.
“As hostility and misinformation rise against LGBTQIASB+ communities, across the world and here in so-called Australia, we gather to reclaim visibility, safety, and joy. Events and spaces like this matter.”
Whether you’re loud and proud or quietly curious, this is a gentle, welcoming space for the LGBTQIASB+ community, families, friends, and allies alike.
Stay tuned to the Castlemaine Pride socials for interviews, spotlights, and ways to get involved as we count down to the big day – let’s make this the most joyful Pride Picnic yet!
Castlemaine Pride proudly operates as a program of Castlemaine Community House.
The Pride Picnic 2025 would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of Bi+ Pride Victoria and Mount Alexander Shire Council, and support from the Victorian Pride Events and Festivals fund program.
For more information visit castlemainepride.org.au
David Wybar, Castlemaine
It seems the long anticipated Frederick Street upgrade is about to begin, but I am going to ask the question as to why are we rate payers having to cough up extra to foot the bill? Surely the gift of $12.19 million by the Federal Government should be enough to achieve some form of atheistic and functional outcome but apparently not.
The project design falls some $250,000 short (at this stage), but luck be on our side that our shire just happens to have a quarter of a million to spare to cover this.
Like many other major projects these days, it seems you no longer ‘Design to a Budget’ but you ‘Budget to the Design’ that inevitably leads to cost and time blow outs, all with the aim of achieving nothing other than the inclusion of what I call unnecessary egotistical ideologies in the hope of gaining some future legacy.
In this cost of living crisis where many of us have to settle for just the ‘necessary’ and not the ‘nice to have’, it’s a bit of an insult I feel, to again be seeing our hard earned money being used on a project that is going to deliver ‘what’ to really to help us residents?
Less rubbish being illegally dumped?
Less homeless people?
Less mobility devices on our roads?
Fixing that pot hole exiting the Market Building carpark?
Shall I go on?
Olivia Bluemore
Blues Guitar Roadshow “Ensemble Spectacular” is coming to Castlemaine this Saturday November 15 at the Theatre Royal after touring around the country with its lineup of some of Australia’s best musicians. Established performers like Geoff Achison, who has a career spanning three decades, as well as newer artists such as Kathleen Halloran, an emerging artist with a captivating stage presence paired with bold and meaningful lyrics. Other performers include The McNaMarr Project, made up of Andrea Marr and John McNamara, who have received global attention for their music, Dave Hole, a highly skilled slide guitarist praised by Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, who claimed he was “One of his favourite guitarists”, as well as Anna Scionti, Wilbur Wilde, Brett Garsed, and Shane Gilbert. The show has been played to sold-out crowds across the country and received standing ovations and huge praise. Each artist gets their own chance in the spotlight before they all come together at the end for the “All-star jam’ when they will perform as one. The audience can expect a show filled with energy and connection, plus maybe even the chance of taking home a signed guitar.
For tickets, visit theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au/music/
