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FREE EVENTS

  • Arts Trail Exhibitions
    Arts Trail Exhibitions
    22 Mar 2025, 10:00 am – 06 Apr 2025, 4:00 pm
    Castlemaine and surrounds
    Explore visual art exhibitions throughout the Festival as part of the Castlemaine Fringe Arts Trail. Dates and times for each exhibition vary. Image: Departure Point, lot19 Gallery.
  • Thought Exchange
    Thought Exchange
    Multiple Dates
    22 Mar 2025, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
    Phee Broadway Theatre - Foyer, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine
    Threads of Us is a roaming Thought Box that gathers your ideas and wonders, weaving them into a shared conversation. Watch out for the Thought Box pop-up activities across the Fringe Program to create something new—using your thoughts as prompts and the Fringe’s vibrant spirit as inspiration. FREE.
  • Open Mic PoetiCas
    Open Mic PoetiCas
    22 Mar 2025, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
    The Coolroom at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, Castlemaine
    The program involves a feature reader sharing their work, and an open section. $5 donation at the door much appreciated. Open section limited to 3 minutes per reader. So buy a drink from the bar, all Welcome! Contact: poeticaspoeticas@outlook.com
  • Live Art Painting
    Live Art Painting
    22 Mar 2025, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine
    Ned Middleton & Tobias Richardson invite you to be part of this larger-than-life painting experience as part of the Fringe Street Party. Drop in during the afternoon, grab an apron and paint your favorite pop star on the huge, shared canvas, filling the empty disco with messy fun. All ages welcome.
  • Opening Night Street Party Spectacular!
    Opening Night Street Party Spectacular!
    22 Mar 2025, 4:00 pm – 11:50 pm
    Castlemaine Town Hall & Surrounds, Lyttleton St, Castlemaine
    3 stages, 150+ performers, food & drink, all ages, bands, dance acts, live art painting, projections, DJs and more. Kicking off early with youth presentations in Mechanics Lane, then staying up late with a huge line up of local legends to keep you dancing way into the night!
  • The Bridge Hotel’s Roving Rickshaw
    The Bridge Hotel’s Roving Rickshaw
    22 Mar 2025, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
    Mechanics La & Community House precinct, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine
    Keep your eyes and ears open for the Bridge Hotel’s Roving Rickshaw, with flashy flights and solar sound system powered by Central Spark! The Rickshaw will be ferrying punters between the Bridge Hotel and the Opening Night Street Party Spectacular! BEEP BEEP! FREE.
  • YES LYCRA YES LIGHTS with the RURAL HOT BITCHES 80’s dance workshop
    YES LYCRA YES LIGHTS with the RURAL HOT BITCHES 80’s dance workshop
    22 Mar 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    Mechanics La, Castlemaine
    Release ya inner 80’s dance passion. Learn an easy & explosive dance to ‘Pour Some Sugar’ by Def Leppard with the Rural Hot Bitches dance troupe! Dress 80’s then join us onstage to perform your new routine to the masses at the Street Party. FREE.
  • Castlemaine Artists Market
    Castlemaine Artists Market
    23 Mar 2025, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
    Western Reserve, Castlemaine
    Showcasing established and emerging artists, designers and craftspeople, the Castlemaine Artists’ Market offers everything from handcrafted leather goods, to exquisite silver jewellery, slick screen-printed products, to earthy ceramics, designer clothing, to timber home wares, and more.
  • Sunday Secret Movie Matinee
    Sunday Secret Movie Matinee
    Multiple Dates
    23 Mar 2025, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
    The Coolroom at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, Castlemaine
    Super Cinema on Sunday here at The Coolroom Cinema. Voyages in cinema history, always interesting. All welcome. For those unfamiliar with The Coolroom Cinema it is a lounge type cinema. Join us for a drink from the bar to watch cool cinema. FREE but bookings essential. 23 & 30 March.
  • Acceptance is the door to freedom
    Acceptance is the door to freedom
    Multiple Dates
    24 Mar 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    Flamin’ Galah Fringe Hub, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine
    In this special performance by local french clarinet player Benoit Oury, and renowned local artist Petrus Spronk, Petrus will share the story of his experience with cancer and how he overcame it until Mr Parkinson’s tripped him up. 24 March & 5 April. FREE.
  • David Juriansz - Back in this Flow
    David Juriansz - Back in this Flow
    26 Mar 2025, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
    The Taproom, 9 Walker St, Castlemaine
    It’s the 25-year anniversary of Juriansz’s first album In this Flow. David took a performing hiatus to produce 5Rhythms conscious dance music. A songwriting award winner at Port Fairy, he returns to his Folk-roots acoustic guitar in this show, featuring songs old and new. FREE.
  • Maine-ly Ukes
    Maine-ly Ukes
    Multiple Dates
    27 Mar 2025, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
    The Coolroom at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, Castlemaine
    Thursday afternoons at the Northern Arts Hotel are dedicated to Ukulele, early in the afternoon we welcome beginners whilst later you join a structured session. Maine-ly Ukes have a wide repertoire, camaraderie that suits everyone!! Other string instruments, vocalists and audience are also welcome.
  • Visible Older Women The Pedestal Project Workshop
    Visible Older Women The Pedestal Project Workshop
    Multiple Dates
    28 Mar 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
    Flamin’ Galah Fringe Hub, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine
    The Pedestal Project invites older women to gather and share their stories of ageing. The workshop and roving performance will explore (in)visibility, and the underrepresentation of women in public records and public space. $25/$20. The roving performance on 29 March 9.30am is FREE.
  • Tales of the Olive Trees
    Tales of the Olive Trees
    28 Mar 2025, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
    The Albion, 152 Duke St, Castlemaine
    Tales of the Olive Trees is a night of art and DJ music and will feature works focused on Palestinian narratives, with all proceeds supporting Palestinian artists and charitable causes. This exhibition enhances the Halaqa Gathering event, creating a valuable cultural experience for attendees. FREE.
  • ZINES Imposters Anonymous
    ZINES Imposters Anonymous
    29 Mar 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    Sac’O’Suds Launderette, 231 Barker St, Castlemaine
    Who among us hasn’t felt too small for their boots sometimes? At Imposters Anonymous we creatively challenge Imposter Syndrome using the playful medium of zines: small handmade booklets for self-expression, sharing ideas, and connecting with community. No experience required; all materials provided.
  • Arts Trail Open Studios
    Arts Trail Open Studios
    Multiple Dates
    29 Mar 2025, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
    Castlemaine and surrounds
    Visit artists in their studios over two massive weekends 29 & 30 March and 5 & 6 April as part of the Castlemaine Fringe Arts Trail. Check dates and times for each open studio as some vary. Image: Graeme Galloway, Studio 146.
  • Halaqa Gathering
    Halaqa Gathering
    29 Mar 2025, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
    The Albion, 152 Duke St, Castlemaine
    An immersive cultural event celebrating music, art & storytelling from the Middle East & beyond. Fostering creativity, connection & cultural exchange the gathering features live music with Middle Eastern, Sumatran, Persian, Jewish, and Arabic melodies, alongside poetry, an exhibition, tea & sweets.
  • West Coast Revival featuring The Complete Unknowns
    West Coast Revival featuring The Complete Unknowns
    29 Mar 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    Mechanics Lane, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine
    Take a musical journey to the West Coast and experience the sounds of The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Doobie Brothers, Joni Mitchell and Fleetwood Mac. FREE.
  • EARWORM
    EARWORM
    29 Mar 2025, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm
    Flamin’ Galah Fringe Hub , Mechanics La, Castlemaine
    EARWORM are an electro-pop trio utilising classic early nineties drum machine samples blended with mellow electronica, guitars and lush harmonies. FREE.
  • Todd Cook
    Todd Cook
    30 Mar 2025, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
    The Taproom, 9 Walker St, Castlemaine
    Gippsland based Todd Cook is bringing his emotive lyrics and earthy tones to Castlemaine. His songs float from intricate fingerpicking to driving rhythms that stir the soul and tell stories of Australian landscapes and people. Todd will be accompanied on stage with mesmerising instrumentation. FREE.
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