The Shepparton Festival is a community platform where local artists, event organisers, artistic groups and individuals can come together and revel in arts, culture, food and community, and this March 15th-31st it’s back, bigger and better than ever. The 2019 theme being ‘Story Bowl’, a celebration of the people and places of the Greater Shepparton, playing on the ‘food bowl’ title of the region and our agricultural and fruit production origins.
The theme aims to capture and tell stories from the past, present and forecast what the future of Greater Shepparton might look like. With over 60 events at various locations around the region, this festival is sure to be full to the brim.
Opening night kicks off on March 15th alongside the Victoria Park Lake from 6pm, with an evening outdoor spectacular for the whole family, with some of the best films from 20 years of the Shepparton Shorts Film Festival. Continue the evening by dancing to the lively tunes of the Shepparton Jazz Orchestra, stuffing your face in food truck cuisine and get lost in the outdoor festival experience. All you need to bring is yourself, and your picnic rug and then your all set for a great night.
Something that definitely tickled my fancy, is the ‘Eat Your Words’ workshop, where over three sessions, you will be provided with ingredients required to make your own narrative feast. This workshop is designed for those who wish to begin writing, but don’t know how to start, those who have a fabulous idea, but don’t know what to do with it, and those interested in writing something delicious.
The festival will also be featuring a new project My Landscape, as well as an Art Therapy workshop, the chance to listen to a diverse line up of Queer Stories, evenings of cultural immersion to honour the stories of the First Australians, a Circa Peepshow, a Paint What You Hear workshop, Big Kids Story Time, a range of dance performances, Story Bowl Story Time, visual art exhibitions, a panel of musicians, a theatre show, an even a textile show, and this isn’t even half of it. Head to http://www.sheppartonfestival.org.au/guide/ to see the full program.
The festival comes to an end with the best send-off we know, with March 31st bringing forth the ever-loved event Gin on the Lawn, offering an afternoon of summer vibes, excellent music courtesy of Benny Walker and Ainslie Wills, and of course Gin, in a beautiful location that will remain a secret until the day of the event. buses will be leaving Shepparton Library at 11:30am sharp and returning at 5pm.
Some activities are free, but others you will have to pre-book and pre-pay, so head to www.sheppartonfestival.org for all the information you will ever need.
Written by Chloe Cicero