The revamped Mildura Wentworth Country Music Festival will make its long-awaited and triumphant return this Friday following two COVID-interrupted years.
The festival will run from Friday 23 September to Saturday 1 October, and will feature two free concerts at Nowingi Place and Langtree Avenue respectively to open and close festivities.
The opening concert will get underway from 5pm on Friday 23 September at Nowingi Place, and will feature festival ambassador Paul Costa, Russell Morris, Gretta Ziller, the Parle Brothers and Matt Manning live on stage.
The closing concert, due to be held from 5pm in Langtree Avenue's Feast Street, will feature Andrew Swift, Sara Leete, Jett Sharman and the All Out '80s Band.
The remainder of the festival's program is set to feature some of the very best in business performing at venues across the region.
Event organiser Davis Storer, from Mildura Entertainment, promised there would be something for everyone as part of the 2022 event – the first of a three-year partnership between Council and Mildura Entertainment.
"This year's festival includes events and performances at venues right across our region, stretching from Mildura through to Wentworth, Red Cliffs and Euston," he said.
"In addition to what we already know and love about the Mildura Wentworth Country Music Festival, this year will also introduce some new and exciting events as part of a new era for the festival, including the opening and closing concerts and a Kids Day Out event on Saturday 1 October in the Langtree Mall.
"There will be something for the diehard Country lovers, something for families and something for people looking for a great night out."
Close to 5,000 visitors are expected to visit the festival over its seven-day run, generating an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million for the local economy. The festival is being supported through $50,000 in funding through Mildura Rural City Council's Event Funding and Support Grant.
Councillor for Recreation and Events Mark Eckel said the new-look Mildura Wentworth Country Music Festival would add to an already exciting calendar of events across our region.
"This year has really seen our community embrace and support our local events like never before following two COVID-interrupted years," he said.
"Council's connection with the Mildura Wentworth Country Music Festival as major sponsor goes back many years, and I'm delighted to continue our support for this revamped event.
"The inclusion of an opening and closing free concert starring Aussie Legend Russell Morris, who will be a crowd-puller in its own right, is welcome, as is the inclusion of the Grand Hotel Chandelier Room as the venue for Neil Mc Arthur's Poets Breakfast featuring USA Award winning poet KC La Course."
