Cootamundra’s Festival of Lights is one of the many community celebrations to enjoy this week. Photo: Visit NSW.
Spring has sprung and the Riverina is celebrating in style, with a massive schedule of events to entertain, excite and stimulate. Read on for our guide to the best things to see and do in the region, from dancing at the Wagga Eisteddfod to a town festival lighting up the main street, a writing festival, a music festival, a town ag show, a swap meet and more.
Cootamundra’s Festival of Lights is back this year, lighting up the main street and bringing plenty of community spirit, live entertainment, market stalls, food vendors, music, interactive displays and more.
Wagga’s Eisteddfod enters dance week, attracting performers across all ages to the Civic Theatre to showcase their talent in just about every discipline of the art, from jazz to cheer, hip-hop, contemporary and ballet.
The Write Around the Murray Festival is also back, providing a great place for readers and writers alike to congregate and celebrate the joy of the written word.
All this and everything in between across the Riverina is in our weekly guide to the best events to check out.
Multiple Days
Talented performers from far and wide are coming to Wagga for a great weekend of performance. Photo: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
Dance-Troupe Weekend Wagga Eisteddfod
When: 5 September and 6 September, numerous showings
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way (off Tarcutta Street), Wagga Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $7 | Book online.
Wagga Wagga’s Eisteddfod enters Troupe Week, with exciting performances from dancers from around the Riverina and the ACT coming to the theatre to showcase their talent on stage.
Audiences can expect an amazing display of ballet, jazz, cheer, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical and more, with dancers of all ages bringing plenty of energy and enthusiasm.
Readers and writers alike will find a lot to love at the Write Around the Murray Festival. Photo: Visit Albury Wodonga.
Write Around the Murray Festival
When: 9 September and 10 September
Where: Albury Library Museum, 540 Kiewa Street, Albury
Cost: Ticket prices may vary | More information online.
Celebrating 20 years of the Write Around the Murray Festival, this year’s event will host 65 author talks, workshops and other storytelling events at sites across the region.
There will be plenty of events covering just about every genre of writing, from kids’ books to verse novels, poetry, crime fiction, historical fiction, memoirs, picture books, audiobooks and comedy.
In addition, there will be meta-discussions about AI and its effects on writing, censorship and encouraging kids to read.
The week’s events also include a comprehensive program specifically targeted at school-aged children.
Friday
The Cube is set to host a night of the weird and wonderful. Image: The Cube Wodonga.
Fringe Session at The Cube Wodonga
When: 4 September, 6 pm
Where: The Cube Wodonga, 118 Hovell Street, Wodonga
Cost: Tickets from $15 to $20 | Book online.
The Cube in Wodonga is hosting its Fringe Session, presenting a night of laughs, eccentricity and entertainment, promising to return better than ever.
This is sure to be a thrilling showcase, with a great array of local artists presenting live music, circus acts, dance, comedy routines, and amusement and laughs galore.
Saturday
Triple J is coming to Griffith this Saturday. Photo: Visit Griffith.
Triple J’s One Night Stand
When: 5 September, 2 pm to 10 pm
Where: Griffith Showground, Murrumbidgee Avenue, Griffith
Cost: Tickets from $11.25 to $15 | Book online.
Triple J is coming to Griffith with a huge line-up of artists, presenting an energetic live performance sure to bring crowds from far and wide. Featured artists include Triple J Hottest 100 mainstays DMA’S, Genesis Owusu, MAY-A, Beddy Rays and Yung Brother.
This is a great all-ages, drug- and alcohol-free event, with all ticket proceeds going towards charity partners Support Act, The Push and Griffith Aboriginal Medical Services.
For information on bus services to and from the event, go to the festival booking website.
Cootamundra will light up this week. Photo: Visit NSW.
Wattle Time Festival Of Lights
When: 5 September, 4 pm to 9 pm
Where: Parker Street (between Adams and Wallendoon streets), Cootamundra
Cost: Free.
Cootamundra comes alive with its Festival of Lights annually and it’s back better than ever this year, with fairy-lit trees, live entertainment, market stalls, food vendors, live music, interactive displays, kids’ activities, handcrafted goods for sale and a smorgasbord of delicacies.
Stroll the Cootamundra streets and soak up the atmosphere of a town celebrating one of its best yearly events.
Sunday
There’s so much to bring in the crowds at the Cootamundra Father’s Day Swap Meet. Photo: Visit NSW.
Father’s Day Swap Meet Cootamundra
When: 6 September, 6 am to 4 pm
Where: Cootamundra Showgrounds, Cootamundra
Cost: Entry $5.
One of the largest and longest-running swap meets in regional NSW, the Cootamundra Swap Meet unites hundreds of stallholders with thousands of visitors from across the state for a day of classic vehicles and collectables.
The highlights and attractions will include stalls selling vintage and modern car parts, motorcycle parts, tractor parts, tools, antiques, collectables, crafts, plants, produce, toys and much more.
Take dad to the track this Sunday for a day of excitement. Photo: Visit NSW.
Father’s Day Races — Gundagai Racecourse
When: 6 September, 11 am
Where: Gundagai Racecourse, Oibell Dr, Gundagai
Cost: Free entry.
Head out to Gundagai Racecourse on Sunday for a great day of racing on Father’s Day. Experience the thrill of the track, cheering on your pick or just enjoying a day out in the sun with the dad in your life.
Get dressed up, grab a drink and enjoy a day at the track with dad at the Gundagai Racecourse.
Wednesday
West Wyalong is celebrating its 125th show. Image: West Wyalong Show.
125th West Wyalong Show
When: 9 September, 9 am to 9:30 pm
Where: West Wyalong Showground, 18-90 Showground Rd, West Wyalong
Cost: Tickets from $5 to $20 | Book online.
The West Wyalong Show is in its 125th year and the town is celebrating with a great schedule of entertainment, horse jumping, dog shows, reptile displays, stockman’s challenges and more.
The night will cap off with fireworks, so don’t miss out on the most exciting event on the Wyalong calendar.
