There are more than enough art events and performances this week to keep you busy. Photo: Visit NSW.
No matter what you’re in the mood for this week, there’s something to get up to across the Riverina in the days to come, with town eisteddfods, cultural festivals, exhibitions, town shows, markets, kids’ stage plays and so much more.
The YIELD Festival is a massive creative arts festival in Coolamon, bringing heaps of exhibitions, workshops, book fairs, comedy and town shows.
The Barellan Show invites you and your family to check out livestock displays, homegrown produce, horse events, rides and amusements.
All this and more in our weekly guide to the best to see and do across the Riverina in the coming days.
Multiple Days
YIELD Festival has enough for everyone. Photo: Visit NSW.
YIELD Festival
When: 28 August to 3 September
Where: Various locations around Coolamon
Cost: Prices may vary | More information online.
The YIELD Festival celebrates the significant creative arts in the Coolamon Shire, with plenty of events, workshops, performances, exhibitions, sales, walks, book fairs, town shows and comedy nights.
It’s going to be a great multi-week festival with lots of excitement for everyone and it opens this Friday with the Gala Night, featuring live entertainment, food vendors and a bar.
Artists from across the Riverina participate in this diverse exhibition. Photo: Visit Coolamon Shire.
Up2Date Art Exhibition
When: 29 August to 3 September, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Up-To-Date Store, Corner Loughnan and Cowabbie streets, Coolamon
Cost: Entry by gold coin donation.
The theme for this year’s Up2Date Art Exhibition is “Re-Imagined”, bringing together artists from around the Riverina to see how they respond to this simple prompt. There are prizes to be won too, with the best works in numerous categories taking home cash.
There will be a huge diversity of works from established and emerging artists, so don’t miss out on this great chance to see the talent of the region on full display.
Last year’s winners can be found here.
Griffith turns into a centre of Italian culture this week. Image: A Taste of Italy Griffith.
A Taste of Italy
When: 28 to 30 August, various times
Where: Various locations around Griffith
Cost: Prices may vary | More information online.
A Taste of Italy celebrates the culture of Italy right at home in Griffith, with a massive schedule of events centred around wine, food, history and cocktails.
Discover Griffith’s connection to Italy at the War Memorial, enjoy pizza specials, experiment at wine tastings, enjoy authentic Italian coffee and discover Italian music.
Full schedule available online.
Friday
Roy Orbison’s story told at the Wagga Theatre. Image: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
The Roy Orbison Story at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre
When: 28 August, 7:30 pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way (off Tarcutta Street), Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $72.5 | Book online.
This performance is a tribute to the late Roy Orbison, celebrating his music, his uniquely powerful voice and the life he led. Mark Shelley, playing the titular role, has the vocal range and the tone to faithfully and respectfully recreate the stage presence of Orbison to such a degree that you’ll believe you’re seeing the real deal. Come along and experience the best of Orbison, presented with the passion and skill that such a performer deserves.
This show’s songs include Only the Lonely, Running Scared, Sweet Dream Baby, Candy Man, Blue Bayou, In Dreams and many more.
Saturday
Barellan’s Show is on this week, with plenty of exciting livestock events. Photo: Visit NSW.
Barellan Show
When: 29 August, 8:30 am
Where: Barellan Showgrounds, Barellan Showgrounds Road, Barellan
Cost: Gate entry from $5 to $15.
The Barellan Show is back this year, celebrating rural life, community spirit and country fun. There will be livestock displays, homegrown produce, arts and crafts displays, competitive events, rides and amusements.
And the rodeo starts at 4:30 pm, with bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback events, junior events, live music and more.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor from out of town, there’s a lot to enjoy at the Barellan Show this Saturday.
Pick up something special at the Lockhart Country Makers Market. Photo: Visit NSW.
Lockhart Country Makers Market
When: 29 August, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Walter Day Park, Lockhart
Cost: Free.
The Lockhart Country Makers Market brings local artisans, producers, growers and small businesses together for a relaxed country market day, with plenty of handmade goods, local produce, gifts and food. So if you’re after a pantry stuffer or a handmade gift, the Lockhart Market is the place to go.
Tuesday
An exciting stage adaptation from the beloved author of The Gruffalo. Image: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
Room on the Broom at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre
When: 1 September, 6 pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way (off Tarcutta Street), Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $30 | Book online.
The award-winning team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child brings you Room on the Broom, a fun new stage production of Julia Donaldson’s novel about a witch and her cat companion as they sail through the skies in peace, until a foul wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand.
A dog, a bird and a frog find the witch’s lost things but when they hop on the broom for a ride, it snaps in half!
It’s a fun, adventurous stage play with plenty of laughs and excitement for the whole family.
Thursday
Wagga’s eisteddfod kicks off with choral performances from the Riverina’s talented young people. Photo: Visit NSW.
Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod – Civic Theatre
When: 3 September
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way, Tarcutta St, Wagga
Cost: One session ticket is $12 | Day pass $27 | Book online.
Wagga Wagga’s eisteddfod is presenting its 2026 Musical Festival, with a full day of choral performances from local school choirs.
There will be numerous sessions throughout the day, with a 10 am performance featuring Kindergarten and Year 1 and 2 choirs, followed by an 11:30 am session made up of primary percussion groups, Central School and Year 3 and 4 choirs.
Then, to cap off the day, there will be a 1 pm session, with performances from Year 5 and 6 choirs as well as the Juvenile School Choir, which is a mix of students from all grades.
