Candelo Village Festival this weekend - 'fat for your soul' as winter looms

Candelo Village Festival runs April 26 to 28. Photo: Supplied.

Before we plunge into the cold, long, dark days of winter comes some ‘fat for your soul’ that will see you through – the Candelo Village Festival this weekend.

There is a spark about the community and environment of Candelo, southwest of Bega, that ensures good times, but not just the ‘good times’ you see talked about in all festival hype, good times that are unique to this place and people.

The opening night concert on Friday by local musicians goes to the heart of the Candelo experience. But first on Thursday night from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, the Kameruka Bush Orchestra will wind up Anzac Day and offer a prelude to the Candelo Village Festival with a family bush dance in the Candelo Town Hall.

The Festival officially gets underway on Friday night with an opening party featuring a stellar lineup of Candelo-based musos. From 7:00 pm catch Melanie Horsnell, Kate Burke, Robyn Martin Steve Wilson, Anactoria, Pete Wild, Michael Menager, Heath Cullen and Mike Martin – a kaleidoscope of the sounds that make Candelo what it is.

Followed at 9:30 pm by local party band The Figmentz with their ’50 Years Since Woodstock’ show, The Figmentz are a blast and always deliver.

On Saturday and Sunday, venues at the Candelo General Store and the Candelo Family Hotel will host more local artists with an acting workshop led by Candelo-raised Brianna Shaw and shows by The New Graces, Mojo, Wrack and Ruin, and Jackson Fisher and Red Heart Blue will launch their new album.

On Saturday night at the Candelo Bowling Club and Bega Sound Collective will host an all-ages dance party. Also on Saturday, Shattered Rainbows will present sound and video art at St Peters Church from 5:30 pm.

For the ticketed gigs head to Candelo General Store, Magpie Music, Bega or you can buy online at the Festival website. Photo: Supplied.

On Sunday afternoon, the General Store will host a South East Youth feature concert and at the Candelo Hotel the Southern Valley Folk Club will present an afternoon blackboard show.

Saturday is Land Education Day with a series of talks, workshops, demonstrations and information sessions covering land management and homesteading skills. Topics include climate smart farming, using low-intensity burning practices, weed and native vegetation management, broom making with Wicked Sticks, snake awareness, soil health, beekeeping, meat curing, sourdough baking, fermented food and drinks, circus skills and the old favourite, basket weaving.

For adrenaline junkies, there will be wheelbarrow races and a billy-cart derby on Sunday afternoon in the main street.

Join the Candelo community for a festival that celebrates everything that makes this place one of a kind. Photo: Supplied.

The entire weekend is packed with music, performance, workshops, education, good vibes and great fun, spread throughout the village – in the park, in the hall, the pub, the general store, and the bowling club.

Food and drink will be available all over town with the Cows Nest Community Cafe and the Oliver Sublette Bar in the hall along with all the fine food and refreshments venues Candelo is well known for.

Accessing the Park Stage on Saturday is free, for the ticketed gigs head to Candelo General Store, Magpie Music, Bega or you can buy online at the Festival website.

Join the Candelo community for a festival that celebrates everything that makes this place one of a kind, it will leave a mark you can take back to your own place and people.

Check the full program HERE including some great opportunities to soak up some great local Aboriginal and visiting artists.

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