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FREE EVENTS
- 22 Mar 2025, 10:00 am – 06 Apr 2025, 4:00 pmCastlemaine and surroundsExplore 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.
- Multiple Dates22 Mar 2025, 11:00 am – 4:00 pmPhee Broadway Theatre - Foyer, Mechanics Lane, CastlemaineThreads 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.
- 22 Mar 2025, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pmThe Coolroom at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, CastlemaineThe 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
- 22 Mar 2025, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pmMechanics Lane, CastlemaineNed 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.
- 22 Mar 2025, 4:00 pm – 11:50 pmCastlemaine Town Hall & Surrounds, Lyttleton St, Castlemaine3 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!
- 22 Mar 2025, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pmMechanics La & Community House precinct, Mechanics Lane, CastlemaineKeep 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.
- 22 Mar 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pmMechanics La, CastlemaineRelease 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.
- 23 Mar 2025, 10:00 am – 2:00 pmWestern Reserve, CastlemaineShowcasing 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.
- Multiple Dates23 Mar 2025, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pmThe Coolroom at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, CastlemaineSuper 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.
- Multiple Dates24 Mar 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pmFlamin’ Galah Fringe Hub, Mechanics Lane, CastlemaineIn 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.
- 26 Mar 2025, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pmThe Taproom, 9 Walker St, CastlemaineIt’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.
- Multiple Dates27 Mar 2025, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pmThe Coolroom at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, CastlemaineThursday 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.
- Multiple Dates28 Mar 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pmFlamin’ Galah Fringe Hub, Mechanics Lane, CastlemaineThe 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.
- 28 Mar 2025, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pmThe Albion, 152 Duke St, CastlemaineTales 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.
- 29 Mar 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pmSac’O’Suds Launderette, 231 Barker St, CastlemaineWho 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.
- Multiple Dates29 Mar 2025, 11:00 am – 4:00 pmCastlemaine and surroundsVisit 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.
- 29 Mar 2025, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pmThe Albion, 152 Duke St, CastlemaineAn 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.
- 29 Mar 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pmMechanics Lane, Mechanics Lane, CastlemaineTake a musical journey to the West Coast and experience the sounds of The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Doobie Brothers, Joni Mitchell and Fleetwood Mac. FREE.
- 30 Mar 2025, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pmThe Taproom, 9 Walker St, CastlemaineGippsland 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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