Now or Never, Bloom, MIFF and more are on the August festival calendar
It’s International Cat Day on 8 August, adding to a fearless month of festival programming.
From haunting tales and cinematic adventures to live music, creative showcases, food, culture, and community celebrations, Victoria comes alive with festivals that offer something for every kind of explorer. Across cities, towns and regional landscapes, these events invite visitors to discover new stories, connect with local communities and experience the unique character of each destination.
Whether you’re chasing the thrill of the unexpected, immersing yourself in the arts, sampling local flavours or simply enjoying a memorable day out, this festival guide is your invitation to explore the experiences waiting across Victoria. Pack your curiosity, gather your friends and get ready to celebrate the creativity, passion and diversity that make these festivals truly special.
I hope you enjoy August’s festivals and events.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Goldfields Gothic
I fell and rolled in the hungry grass, that tells the tale of a terrible past
The streets of Maldon have stories to tell, but best be warned this is no ordinary weekend getaway. Goldfields Gothic is a festival of dark ideas that revels in those terrible tales told around campfires of spiritualists, secret societies, bushrangers, ghost-hoaxers and murderers. It embraces the eerie. It devours the macabre. It’s gloriously gory. Do you have the mettle to take a walk on the wild side?
Bendigo African Festival
Where: Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo
It takes every kinda people to make the world go round
Presented by the African Music and Cultural Festival (AMCF), Bendigo kicks off August with the inaugural Bendigo African Festival. Come celebrate the voices that make up our community in a spirited festival of curiosity, respect and joy through live African music, drumming, dancing, stilt walkers, acrobatics, fashion, storytelling, street food and face-painting.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYob-udFrNo/
POCO Film Festival
Where: Palace Regent Cinema, Ballarat
It’s a colourful world that we live in
Who likes short shorts? We like short shorts. In a world of prestige miniseries and films that don’t know when to end their runtime, POCO Film Festival shines a light on films where the beginning is already the middle and the end arrives by the time you start your popcorn. Award categories include Best Short, Jury Prize and Best Student Film.
Films include A Stable for Horses, A Thousand Odd Days, Bőr, Bringing His Spirit Home, Candy Bar, Howl, Lincoln, Set Menu, Stranded, Struggimento!, The Connection of Ants, The Meaningless Daydreams of Augie & Celeste, The Runaway Horses, The Shirt off Your Back, The Suit and What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?
The Big Bike Film Night
Crown (Village Cinemas), Melbourne – August 1; Village Cinemas, Geelong on August 3; and Peninsula Cinemas, Rosebud on August 5
I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride it where I like
Saddle up for the best cycling shorts from around the world. And when I say shorts, I don’t mean Lycra. I mean films that will have you dusting off old Betsy and pedalling your way to adventure. This is an all bikes are welcome zone – we’re talking road cycling, single-speed, mountain biking, downhill, BMX, uni-cycling, cargo bikes, bike touring, recumbent, bike-packing, commuter, cruiser, cycle-cross, penne farthing, tri-cycle and tandem. If it has pedals, you’ll find its passion.
Ballarat’s Best Pie
How pleased I’ll be if you bring to me an Australian hot meat pie
You may be left with flakes down your shirt. You may burn your tongue with an overzealous bite. You may be judged by the amount of sauce used or utensils employed. But from the footy stands to a road trip with your mates, there is nothing quite as comforting as the mighty meat pie.
Ballarat’s Best Pie is back for a crusty good time, with some 30 savoury and sweet pies on offer at some of the city’s top cafes, restaurants and bakeries. Categories include Best Savoury Pie, Best Sweet Pie, Best Bakery Pie, Brilliantly Unexpected Pie, Pie with Purpose and People’s Choice, along with the granddaddy of them all, Ballarat’s Best Pie.
Melbourne International Film Festival
Where: Various Venues Melbourne
I’m gonna cancel all my plans just to watch a film or two
If life is starting to feel a little stiff, dress on up and get down to MIFF. A place where popcorn meets prestige, genius meets madness, the long-running Melbourne International Film Festival is a place where you can take in 101 genres in a single day. It’s a kaleidoscope of stories.
Explore categories including Africa & Middle East, Animation, Asia Pacific, Australian, The Body is a Battlefield, Bright Horizons, Chantal Akerman, Crime & Punishment, Critical Condition, Doc Visions, Documentaries, Europe & UK, Experimentation, Family Films, Headliners, Latin America, MIFF Shorts, MIFF Talks, MIFF XR, Music on Film, Night Shift, North America, Restorations and Tales of Cinema.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbRo52Djygl/
Warrnambool Organ Festival
Where: Various locations Warrnambool
The Warrnambool Organ Festival brings together exceptional musicians, inspiring performances and the magnificent sound of the pipe organ for a memorable three-day celebration of music. Featuring talented organists, guest performers and captivating concerts, the festival offers a unique opportunity to experience one of the region’s most impressive instruments in an intimate setting. Whether you’re a devoted music lover or discovering the organ for the first time, the event promises a rewarding weekend of artistry and connection.
Bloom
Pall Mall, Bendigo – 14 August – 31 October
Bloom celebrates the beauty of spring across the Bendigo region with more than 60 events showcasing vibrant gardens, colourful landscapes, local food, wine and culture. Wander through the iconic Bendigo Annual Tulip Display, stroll the golden Cornella Canola Walk, explore open gardens and discover charming country towns filled with seasonal experiences. From family-friendly activities to guided walks, festivals and cellar doors, Bloom invites visitors to immerse themselves in the colour, creativity and natural beauty of the region.
Geelong Short Play Festival
Shed a little light on a human story
From a quartet of siblings who gather following their father’s death to a life-changing podcast bombshell from a reclusive rock star, a collection of local theatre companies are out to explore what it means to be human – one story at a time.
Following its inaugural outing last year, the Geelong Short Play Festival returns as 30 plays were whittled down to a super six. Prizes will be awarded to Best Script, Best Actor and Best Production, while audience members are able to vote for their favourite play.
St Kilda Spirits Festival
Where: St Kilda Town Hall, St Kilda
It’s time for a most spirited affair. Whether you’re philosophising with whisky, dancing barefoot with gin or playing it cool with vodka, the St Kilda Spirits Festival is a clink of glasses to this trio of spirited delights. Choose your flavour and enjoy tasting sessions and masterclasses as some thirty Australian and international distillers showcase new ranges and established brands.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWfcJqogfB7/
Ballarat Blues Festival
You get a shot of rhythm and blues
Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, here comes a festival. Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, that’s all about the blues. Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, if you want to shake it. Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, then put on those dancin’ shoes. Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, come on now and shake it. Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, you ain’t got nothin’ to lose.
One and all, the Ballarat Blues Festival is back to showcase the very best in Australia blues. Your line-up includes Dave Hole, Joe Camilleri, Wilbur Wilde Rock Royalty Revue, Geoff Achison (Allman Brothers tribute), Nina Ferro (Bonnie Raitt tribute), Jimi Hocking with John McNamara (Gary Moore tribute), Andrea Marr (Etta James tribute), Brett Garsed (Rory Gallagher tribute) and Sammy Owen (Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute).
Now Or Never
Now or Never is Melbourne’s annual festival of art, ideas, sound and technology, transforming the city with immersive experiences, innovative performances and thought-provoking conversations. Celebrating creativity without limits, the festival turns Melbourne into a canvas for boundary-pushing artists, changemakers and innovators. From cutting-edge installations to captivating soundscapes and visionary ideas, Now or Never invites audiences to explore the city in a bold new way.
More through here.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZtGSIrjEpC/
Top Dog Film Festival
Village Cinemas, Geelong – August 19; Cameo Cinema, Belgrave – August 23; and The Astor Theatre, St Kilda – August 25
Everything reminds me of my dog
Hey there fella, there’s a good boy. Welcome to the warm and fluffy festival where every tail has a tale. Touring annually, the Top Dog Film Festival is a two-hour celebration honouring the relationship between dogs and their people. Watch the canine charisma unfold.
Bendigo Militia and Collectables Show
Where: Bendigo Showgrounds, Bendigo
A tinker, a tailor, a soldier’s things
From the serious collector to those who want something special for the mantelpiece, the Bendigo Militia and Collectables Show is a treasure trove for enthusiasts. Step back in history as you wander the tables for timeless pieces and soak in knowledge from the best in the business. Items include books, medals, military uniforms, sporting goods, hunting/fishing/shooting items, custom-made knives, battlefield relics, 3D battle art and antique and modern firearms.
Words in Winter
You took the words right out of my mouth
There is a Danish concept,hygge(pronounced hooga), that means, according to denmark.dk, “taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about – or even by yourself – to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures”. Let the spirit of hygge warm the fire of your belly at Words in Winter and its weekend of readings, poetry, theatre, music, talks, workshops and exhibitions. This year’s theme is Curiouser & Curiouser.
Winter Sounds
Hear that sound. There’s a voice to be found
Taking place in venues including St Peter’s Church (Daylesford), Glenlyon and Clunes Town Halls, The Old Schoolhouse at Kooroocheang and Bullarto Hallng as a hot water bottle and a big fluffy blanket
Your line-up is Augie March, Beans, Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits, Henry Wagons, Kate Miller-Heidke, Leah Senior, Lior (with string quartet), Magic Dirt, Milly Strange, Pony Face presents Nebraska, Public Figures, Queenie, Romy Vager and William Crighton.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZV6JENGKXr/
Bendigo on the Hop
I think I’ll have myself a beer
From 16th century monk and theologian Martin Luther who reportedly mused ‘those who do not drink beer, have nothing to drink’ to Homer Simpson and ‘mmm, beer’, beer has been rejoiced for centuries. At the popular Bendigo on the Hop, brewers from around the country converge upon the city to show their wares in indie-beer bars, cafes, pubs and restaurants throughout the CBD.
Festival of Glass
Where: Drysdale Community Hub, Drysdale
Glass artists with the light they play
For a few crucial moments, the glass is alive. Soft as honey and hot as fire, this almost playful state is transformed into something beautiful, yet brittle. Welcome to the world of glass. The Festival’s International Artist in Residence and local glass artists will demonstrate hot glass work, while the Expo hall dazzles with a multitude of stalls showcasing glass artists and glass art suppliers from around Australia, fused glass, mosaic, lead-light, beading, jewellery, lamp and kiln-work products
There really is something for everyone this August! Get your adventure on!
Words by Chester Ogilvie and Staff Writer
