Leisure
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Wine meets summertime fun
Summer’s finally here — and it’s time for a fling! In the naturally cool Macedon Ranges wine region, the winemakers have worked hard for their sunny days, and now they’re ready to bask in them. And they want you to join them! The Summertime Fling Festival returns this month for its sixth year to celebrate…
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Chefs offer rare fare
Chef friends Daniel Lusi and Eileen Hornell are coming together this month for some delicious food and wine under the summer sun at Boomtown Wine in Castlemaine. Expect five-ish courses (with extras available on the day) from the beautiful produce of the area, paired with delicious wine from the Boomtown crew. Daniel has spent the…
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Cocktails and swing
The Maurocco Bar in Castlemaine is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, January 19 to raise funds for the town’s University of the Third Age Choir. Patrons are encouraged to dress up and expect an afternoon of spruced cocktails and plenty of dance while John Meir and the Meircats keep company with a setlist of smooth…
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Local artists shine brightly
A sparkling new exhibition, You Must Be My Lucky Star, was unveiled at Castlemaine’s lot19 artspace on January 11 to kick-start 2025. The exhibition features the work of 12 artists working from lot19 Castlemaine. Some are teachers, some are students. They are all teaching each other – genres and media bonded through shared studios and…
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Twilight magic at Maldon
Maldon Twilight Dinner is back for 2025, with all the elements that have always made the annual event a spectacular night – food, music and dancing. With a change in organisers there will be a few changes to the popular event, largely the super local focus of the festival, which be held on Saturday January…
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Songs of hope
An all-new concert by three-time Grammy winning Soweto Gospel Choir is headed to the Kyneton Town Hall. The concert commemorates South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Bringing joy to all, Hope opens with a rousing program of South African freedom songs that inspired their Rainbow Nation. Then the…
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Irish star to Lauriston Hall
In a coup for local music-lovers, the brilliant young Irish singer-songwriter, Susan O’Neill, is playing one of only two concerts in Victoria at Lauriston Hall as part of her current tour of Australia and New Zealand. Susan performed knock-out concerts at Lauriston in both 2019 and 2020 and those lucky enough to attend will remember…
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Kick off summer at Wombat Forest
Wombat Forest Vineyard and Winery is an amazing place to visit with an exciting lineup of events for all the family over the summer period. Located at Denver, Wombat Forest is a hidden gem with expansive forest and water views from its indoor and outdoor spaces. It is proud to be one of the venues…
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Indie rock supergroup heads to Castlemaine
Following performances across New York, Los Angeles and London, The Hard Quartet (Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, Emmett Kelly and Jim White) are heading to Australia, stopping to perform in Castlemaine this month. Their eponymous debut double album, The Hard Quartet, brings together years of collective influence, inspiration and inhibition but more than anything it harnesses…
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From paddock to plate at Darraweit Valley Cider House
While less well known than its neighbours, Mount Macedon and Hanging Rock, the Deep Creek Valley in the Eastern Macedon Ranges produces an incredible depth and diversity of seasonal produce. To celebrate this, a community of regenerative farmers and artisan producers from the region (Madelaine’s Eggs, Dreaming Goat Dairy, Wildwood Organics, Source Fungi, Tall Poppy…
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Kids get creative
The National Gallery of Victoria Kids on Tour is returning to central Victoria with its largest program yet. Available on selected dates at Castlemaine and Kyneton Libraries (see below) and open between 10am and 4pm at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery throughout January. This year’s program celebrates the work of local and international artists and…
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School holiday activities
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is hosting a range of fun activities for children and young people throughout the summer school holidays, including: Inflatable Fun @ aquatic centres Both Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre and Gisborne Aquatic Centre will host the pool inflatable – featuring obstacles, climbing hills and slides – on the following days…