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 the whole family to enjoy!
In the lead-up to the festival, Cessnock City Libraries will host special bushland focused Storytime events. Bring the kids along for special readings of: The Forgotten Song: Saving the Regent Honey Eater, Bowerbird Blues, and The Bower Bird at Cessnock Library from 10am on Tuesday 3 September and Kurri Kurri Library from 10am on Wednesday 4 September.
Kicking off the official festivities is the inaugural Twilight Tales – a free outdoor cinema event from 5 to 7.30pm at the Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre. This exciting new event will kick off at 5pm with live music by the talented Sandy Summers, leading into a screening of the beloved environmental-themed film, The Lorax.
Pack a picnic or savour delicious offerings from Bonjour Crepes or a BBQ hosted by the Cessnock Hornets Football Club. Don’t forget to bring your own chair and picnic rug for maximum comfort.
Spaces to The Lorax are limited, so be sure to check Council’s website from Friday 16 August to grab your FREE ticket!
On Saturday 7 September, Spotlights and Stars offers a unique opportunity to explore the magic of our bushland after dark at Poppethead Park. 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.
This year, Cessnock City Council is thrilled to unveil an exciting addition to our ever-popular spotlighting event: a captivating stargazing talk that promises to elevate your experience under the stars. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, avid stargazer, or simply curious about the mysteries of the night, Spotlights and Stars promises to be an unforgettable adventure for all ages.
Attendees will split into two groups and head off spotlighting and exploring around the Our Bushland Festival site for 1 hour – 1.5 hours starting 6pm lead by both ecologists and entomologists. Spaces are limited, so be sure to check back on Friday 16 August to grab your FREE ticket!
Enjoy a guided stargazing session. Choose from 2 sessions (45 minutes to 1 hours) at either 6:30pm or 7:30pm. Spaces are limited, so be sure to check back on Friday 16 August to grab your FREE ticket to the 6:30pm session or a FREE ticket to the 7:30pm session!
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.
The East Cessnock Bowling Club will be running a free shuttle bus to the Our Bushland Festival at Poppethead Park on Sunday 8 September.
Admission to all events is free, with Twilight Tales and Spotlights and Stars requiring advance registration.
To stay up to date with the latest information about Our Bushland Festival, visit the Our Bushland Festival page on the Cessnock City Council website.