Cessnock City Council will once again host the popular Our Bushland Festival as it returns for its third year from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 September 2024 with some new and exciting additions!
The nature-themed event celebrates the unique flora and fauna of the Cessnock area with a huge line-up of engaging activities for all ages to enjoy.
Kicking off the festivities on Friday 6 September is the inaugural Twilight Tales – a free outdoor cinema event from 5 to 7.30pm at the Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre. And the best part? Council is letting the community pick the flick – Bee Movie or The Lorax? – visit the Our Bushland Festival page on Council's website to cast your vote by 1 August.
On Saturday 7 September, Spotlights and Stars offers a unique opportunity to explore the magic of our bushland after dark. Led by local ecologists, this event allows participants to observe nocturnal animals in their natural habitat, and in a special addition this year's event, a captivating stargazing talk will complement the experience.
Our Bushland Festival will culminate with an action-packed day of fun, food and adventure from 9.30am to 3pm on Sunday 8 September at Poppethead Park, Kitchener. Highlights include guided bushwalks, mini workshops, animal talks featuring snakes, reptiles, and Tassie Devils, a range of kids' activities, and live music performances by Isaac Compton, Trinity Woodhouse, Mackenzie Lee, Dirt Road Tribute, Chain Daisy, and Sandy Summers.
Cessnock City Mayor Jay Suvaal is encouraging everyone to come along to one or all of the fantastic free events that form part of the 2024 Our Bushland Festival.
"We're excited to bring this wonderful festival back for its third year and it's shaping up to be bigger and better than ever with an expanded array of events and activities that highlight the natural beauty and biodiversity of our region," said Clr Suvaal.
"Whether you're joining us for the enchanting Twilight Tales, the immersive Spotlights and Stars, or the action-packed festival day itself, there's something for everyone to enjoy."
Admission to all events is free, with Twilight Tales and Spotlights and Stars requiring advance registration when tickets go live next month. To stay up to date with the latest information about Our Bushland Festival or to submit your vote for Twilight Tales, visit the event page here.
Our Bushland Festival is made possible thanks to a number of event sponsors and partners, including Hunter Local Land Services, Hunter Water Corporation, APA Management, KFC, Hunter Valley Operations, Cessnock Hospitality Group, Hunter Resource Recovery, East Cessnock Bowling Club, Birdlife Australia, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Aussie Ark, Hunter Bird Observers Club, and National Parks and Wildlife Services.
