By KATH GANNAWAY
THE lower temperatures of autumn and winter pave the way for festivals that celebrate some of the cooler aspects of living in a cool climate environment.
First up is the Hills PAVE Festival from 9-19 April. This year celebrates a decade of fun and festivity and includes SunFest on Sunday, 12 April.
Featuring over 200 performers and artists showcasing something for every taste, age, ability and interest, PAVE will be jam-packed every day with great activities throughout the school holidays.
Enjoy workshops, music, open community garden tours, the greatly anticipated Golden Cow Literacy Awards and much more. Visit www.pave.org.au.
Moving indoors, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow comes to Burringa at Upwey on Sunday, 21 June, and to Warburton on Wednesday, 1 July.
It’s a festival of laughs that stuffs one of the world’s largest comedy festivals into one show. Offering a selection of Australian, international and special guest comedians, the roadshow is all the best bits of the Comedy Festival condensed into the one ‘all killer’ no filler travelling event. Phone 1300 368 333, culturetracks.info.
Another birthday festival with great appeal (sorry) is the Gladysdale Apple and Wine Festival which turns 30 this year. It’s all grown up and there are promises that it will not only be bigger, but better than ever!
The festival, on Sunday, 3 May, celebrates the local apple and grape harvest with bands, performers, competitions, rides and raffles, market stalls, woodchop and blacksmith demonstrations and loads of fabulous, tasty food from Devonshire teas to gourmet cheeses. Visit www.gladysdaleps.vic.ed.au.
Back inside for the 32nd Annual Warburton Film Festival. Set the dates now for this fabulous film festival and don’t plan another thing for 12-14 June. Starting with the ‘Show us your Shorts’ competition for emerging filmmakers, it continues on showing films from Australia and around the world over two wonderful days and nights. Visit www.warburtonfilmfestival.com.au
