For further information please contact Wartook Gardens.

Full of fun festivals, entertaining events and interesting displays, The Grampians region has something for everyone, all year round. Sport, music, wildflowers, art, history, food and wine, and expositions are all feature attractions. The culture and lifestyle of The Grampians region is alive, and kicking up its heels.

JANUARY

Great Western Champagne Picnic Races
Enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of country races. This race meeting features regional food, great local wines, music, art and loads of fun for the entire family.

Australian Country Life Festival - Great Western
On deep lawns beneath the pines at Seppelt Winery, Great Western, a relaxing family day of good food, great wines, music, art and fun for the kids.

FEBRUARY

Hamilton Beef Expo
Held at the Hamilton Show Grounds, the Expo includes seminars, trade displays, show cattle and sales, which showcase the beef, fodder and agro forestry industries.

Penshurst Country Muster
Experience the sights, the smells, the real life action of cowboys and girls, bulls and broncos in a campdraft competition and rodeo. Held over 2 days, the Muster incorporates children's entertainment, market stalls and music.

Grampians Jazz Festival - Halls Gap
A jazz - lover's Mecca! Register for the full program, enjoy casual performances as you stroll around Halls Gap. Cheer your favourite combo in the annual musos procession.

MARCH

Ararat Jailhouse Rock Festival
Rock and roll, jump and jive to the popular sounds of a bygone era. Australia's longest running Rock and Roll Festival.

Wimmera Machinery Field Days - Horsham
Held each year during the first week of March at Longerenong, there are up to 600 exhibitors with display equipment valued in excess of $100 million. Up to 30,000 people attend the Field Days each year.

'Art is... Festival' - Horsham
This annual 10 day celebration captures the value and excellence of local arts and heritage.

Casterton Vintage Car Rally
Rural Victoria's largest rally of vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles held over 2 days.

Jeparit Fishing Competition
The Wimmera's longest running fishing contest is an event for all the family to participate in. There are lots of prizes for young and old anglers.

APRIL

Hamilton Cup
The first day of this 2 day race meet, known locally as Ladies Day, features a champagne lunch, followed by the second big day - Cup Day.

Stawell Gift Easter Festival
Three days of heats and finals of the renowned Stawell Easter Gift, the world's leading professional footrace.

Stawell Gold Cup Race Meeting
A highlight on the Wimmera Racing Club calendar of thoroughbred racing.

Grampians Art Exhibition - Halls Gap
Art enthusiasts return annually at Easter to choose from an excellent range of artworks.

Great Western Bundy Rum Rodeo
See the thrills and spills of this exciting rodeo. Held in the evening on Easter Friday at the Great Western Racecourse, fully catered.

Warrock Open Day & Heritage Fair
See the workings of this historic sheep station as it was 150 years ago - classified "A" by the National Trust.

Ararat - Montara Winery "Scarecrows in the Vineyard" competition and display
This unique competition attracts ingenious scarecrow entries from across the state.

Ararat, Hamilton and Horsham Long Lunches
Be one of the thousands of Victorians who love to lunch.

Wimmera German Fest
The pioneer German heritage of this area is celebrated at Dimboola and features traditional German food and Oompah bands and lots of family fun.

Shakespeare In The Grampians
The famous Shakespearean tragedy McBeth set in the dramatic surrounds of the Grampians on sunset over three weekends.

St Arnaud Passion Play
A passionate community performance in a rustic setting. The St Arnaud Passion Play is an event which tells the Easter story.

MAY

Grampians Gourmet Weekend - Halls Gap
Great food, wine and entertainment for young and old. Gather at the central marquee to bid for a barrique of top Grampians red. Join the special activities at local wineries, including presentations to winning scarecrows at Montara.

Casterton Cup
The picturesque race course is host to a 2 day carnival, including the Cup and steeplechase events.

JUNE

Pomonal Art Show
A variety of local art shown at the Pomonal Hall.

Hamilton Antique Fair
Held in Hamilton's Performing Arts Centre, this Fair is a fabulous mix of all things antique, from chintz to china, furniture to figurines, jewellery to jade.

Hamilton Vintage Car Rally
Over the June long weekend, the streets and villages of the Southern Grampians turn into scenes from yesteryear. You will see 80 years of automobile history as veteran class right through to late classics cruise by.

Grampians Model Railroad Exhibition - Stawell
Come and see the huge model rail collection all under one roof, enthusiasts and the curious welcome.

JULY

Kelpie Working Dog Auction - Casterton
Demonstrations of yard and truck working abilities precede this unique auction of Casterton's very own dog breed.

AUGUST

Ararat Victorian State Championship of One Act Play Festival
Recognised as the best in Australia, the Ararat Festival is held on the 1st weekend of August each year. All sessions are open to the public.

Hamilton Sheepvention
Experience a traditional country field day by attending this 2 day event. Watch Fashion Parades, experience the ram sales, wonder at the cattle dog trials, watch cooking demonstrations and shop from trade displays.

Wimmera Art Exhibition - Horsham
Promoting and encouraging local artists to display their work. Over $8,000 worth of prizes are given away and paintings are available for sale.

SEPTEMBER

Ararat Australian Cymbidium Orchid Show
The biggest show for genus plants in the world. A spectacular display of new hybrids, vintage favourites and true exhibition plants grown by premier hobbyists and commercial orchid growers from around the nation.

Go Wild About Flowers
A celebration of wildflowers in the parks and gardens of the Grampians region. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Grampians region, but the months of September, October and November are the best times to visit the area known as the "Garden of Victoria".

Ironbark's Discovery Festival
Discover the plants and animals of the Stawell Box Ironbark Woodlands during this festival that incorporates photography, guided discovery walks, art, bird watching, wild flowers, story telling and educational lectures. Now a part of Go Wild About Flowers.

OCTOBER

Grampians Arts & Garden Discovery Festival - Pomonal
Two days of activities including open gardens, Contemporary Art & Sculpture Exhibition, Playfest Competition and Musicfest competition.

Ararat Golden Gateway Festival
A jam packed calendar of events over 10 days in Ararat. From jugglers to magicians a popular street procession, Festival Quest Ball and Coronation Ceremony, Agricultural Show, competitions / stalls and children's activities.

Horsham Cup
The Horsham Cup is held annually at the Horsham Racecourse.

Southern Grampians Open Gardens
The Western District is renowned for its many magnificent properties and stunning gardens. Take inspiration from some private gardens which are open during Spring as part of Australia's Open Garden Scheme.

Horsham Spring Garden Festival
Set in the Botanic Gardens, the Horsham Spring Garden Festival promotes and fosters the love of gardening in the community.

Awakenings Performing Arts Festival - Horsham
A range of music, drama, dance programs, performing art workshops, outdoor recreation experiences and environmental sculpture activities.

Halls Gap Wildflower Exhibition
Acclaimed annual exhibition of all Grampians plant species, now in its 63rd year. Guided walks, evening lectures, art displays and open gardens.

Warracknabeal Rodeo and Country Music Muster
Top country music artists perform over the weekend culminating in the twilight rodeo - part of the Australian National Championships.

NOVEMBER

Ararat Gold Cup Race Meeting
A feature event on the race calendar is the Ararat Gold Cup. V-Line packages available, which include travel, entry and lunch.

Dunkeld Cup
With the spectacular Mt. Sturgeon as a backdrop, the Dunkeld Cup is fast becoming one of regional Victoria's most popular Picnic Cup races. Chill the drinks, pack your picnic basket, dress up for Fashions on the Field, and come along to be part of a colourful day.

Halls Gap Film Festival
Who needs Cannes? Film buffs flock to Halls Gap in the second weekend of November for a visual feast. Book for the entire program, or combine a daytime ramble in the mountains with the stimulation of a fine film or two at night.

Dimboola Rowing Regatta
Victoria's best regional rural regatta has been a constant feature on the calendar for over 100 years and attracts some of the state's most promising and talented rowing crews.

Rainbow Iris Festival
The small town of Rainbow comes alive for three weeks in November to celebrate one of the best loved flowers - the iris. A variety of activities includes music, garden parties and other feature events.

DECEMBER

Moyston Boxing Day Gymkhana
Moyston comes alive on Boxing Day with an experience unique to this country town. Activities include World Rabbit Skinning Championships, huge Art and Craft Show, Mud bash, Side Shows and Open Air Market.

Penshurst Boxing Day Cup
Penshurst is nestled under the extinct volcano - Mt. Rouse and plays host to a wonderful post Christmas race meeting.

Kanamaroo Rock'n'Roll Festival
Held annually on the banks of the Wimmera River and Firebrace Street. The Kanamaroo Festival is a family orientated festival featuring events such as fireworks, bands, raft race, birdman competitions and rock'n'rollers.

Casterton Christmas Lights Festival
Visitors can enjoy a lights tour on local buses at dusk, with events and activities through the month.