THE winter festival lull is over and with the regenerating buds of spring comes a whole new burst of festival fun in around the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
The warmer temperatures and more stable weather are the big attractions for festival planners along, of course, with the desire to dust off the winter doldrums and celebrate.
Whether it’s a small community get-together, a weekend of festival fun or a week-long extravaganza of fine wines, music, food and fun, there’s plenty to entice visitors to join the locals and put a little festival vibe into a visit.
Get online to find out more about these spring and early summer festivals, or call in to any one of the tourism information centres across the region.
September
Tesselaar Tulip Festival at Silvan
Thursday, 8 September to Tuesday, 4 October. Phone 9737 7722
www.tulipfestival.com.au.
Belgrave Platypus Festival
Saturday, 10 September. Phone 9492 6853.
Belgrave Lake Park, Park Avenue.
www.belgraveplatypus.wordpress.com.
Party With Attitude Festival at Upwey
Saturday, 17 September. Phone DRMC 9754 6566.
www.drmc.org.au.
ECOSS SpringFest at Wesburn
Sunday, 25 September. Phone 5967 4216.
www.ecoss.org.au.
Great Southern Beer and Cider Festival at Yarra Glen
Friday, 30 September.
www.eventbrite.com.au.
October
2016 Shedfest Wine Festival
Weekend 8, 9 October. Phone 5964 4755.
www.yarravalleysmallerwineries.com.au/events/shedfest-2016
Foggy Mountain Bluegrass Festival at Kinglake
Weekend 14, 15, 16 October. Phone 0488 997 117.
www.fmbluegrass.com.au
Marysville Jazz and Blues Festival Weekend
Weekend 14, 15, 16 October. Phone 0477 123 506.
www.marysvillejazzandblues.com.
Oktoberfest at Cuckoo, Olinda
Friday, 21 October. Phone 9751 1003.
www.cuckoorestaurant.com.au.
Cuban Jazz Festival Harvest Picnic at Yarra Glen
Sunday, 23 October.
www.winequest.com.au.
C J Dennis Poetry Festival at Toolangi
The Singing Gardens of CJ Dennis.
Weekend 22, 23 October. Phone 0438 339 459.
www.thecjdennissociety.com.
November
RACV Marysville Marathon Festival
Sunday, 6 November, Gallipoli Park. Phone 1418 557 052.
www.marysvillemarathon.com.au.
Healesville Music Festival
Weekend 11, 12, 13 November. Phone 0427 270 547.
www.healesvillemusicfestival.com.au.
Draught Horse & Vintage Machinery Festival at Wandin
Weekend 26 & 27 November. Phone 5964 2088.
www.montdelancey.org.au.