Castlemaine State Festival’s 50th anniversary event is well underway. The opening weekend delivered something genuinely memorable.
Around 2,000 people filled the streets of Castlemaine on Friday night for the free Opening Night Street Party. It began with the Nalderun Songbook Project — over 200 school children performing alongside Uncle Ron Murray, Faye White and others.
From there the evening opened up into circus, with local and international performers taking to the air, before Amaru Tribe brought the whole street together for a night of celebratory dance music.
When the street party wrapped, the underground opened up — After Dark / Underground with Millú & Pjenné drew crowds into the Maxi IGA underground carpark with Harvey Sutherland in the Theatre Royal for an EDM dance party that kept the energy going well into the night.
Across the weekend, The Goods Shed transformed into the Festival Club, with packed houses every night. The Glitterbug Club earned a review of 100 out of 5 from one audience member leaving their premiere session. The Situationist Travel Agency at the Market Building brought a different kind of energy — laughter ringing out through the space as audiences found themselves very much part of the show.
Out in Chewton, the world’s possibly smallest gallery, The Chewton Small, opened its doors. And in the churches and grand halls, full houses welcomed Parvyn & Josh, Victoria Opera, and acclaimed Russian violinist Sergej Krylov alongside pianist Konstantin Shamray.
Workshops across Buda Historic Home & Garden, Castlemaine Art Museum, Newstead Arts Hub and Castlemaine Library rounded out a weekend that truly had something for everyone.
Head to the website to see what’s on this weekend and grab any remaining tickets at castlemainefestival.com.au
The 10 day festival will wrap up this Sunday March 29 with another massive free Closing Day Garden Party from in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens from 11am to 5pm where you can enjoy entertainment by Super Mandé Percussion, Belly Savalas, Gusto Gusto, World Kitchen, Thompson’s Foundry Band, Dandyman, Castlemaine Circus, Castlemaine Fringe and more.