Festival History

An initiative of Bathurst Regional Council, the Bathurst Winter Festival came to life in 2015, as part of celebrations marking the bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's proclamation of Bathurst as a town. Since 2015 the festival continues to be owned, managed, operated and promoted by Bathurst Regional Council.

The annual festival extends across all sixteen days of the NSW winter school holidays.

The businesses and residents of Bathurst embrace the festival, adding activities to the program of events, decorating their shop fronts and homes and creating a colourful carnival of welcome that extends across the festival's sixteen days.

Stunning illuminations projected on some of Bathurst's historic buildings have been a part of the festival from the very beginning, telling history, lighting up imaginings and bringing community together to acknowledge and celebrate all aspects of the Bathurst Region - people, place, heritage, culture, past, present and future. 

The Bathurst Winter Festival is a marquee event on NSW's calendar and is growing each year, proving winter really is the best season.

About Bathurst Regional Council Events

The Bathurst Winter Festival is managed and produced by Bathurst Regional Council Events. Bathurst Regional Council is renowned for delivering a broad spectrum of annual events which attract an ever increasing local, national, and international audience. Our event experience ranges from large scale, outdoor, music, sporting, and cultural celebrations to local community-based events. Council is committed to delivering diverse, sustainable and accessible events which appeal to a wide audience.