About Us
acknowledgement of country
Bundanoon Winterfest recognises and respects the Traditional Custodians and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture.
History of Winterfest
Bundanoon Winterfest has been running for over 12 years. It began when a group of Bundanoon locals wanted to create something to bring the community together in the middle of winter - July in the Highlands is dark and cold. Bundanoon Winterfest brings light and a sense of community to that midwinter darkness. It has become an enormously popular mid-winter celebration, with a program of events designed to appeal to all.
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The Winterfest opening night party is one of the best-loved of Bundanoon’s many community events. Attracting about 3,500 locals and their guests, there is live music, food and drink stalls from local community organisations and businesses, and plenty of fun activities for adult and kids of all ages to enjoy.
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Our workshop program runs for the entire weekend and aims to bring locals and visitors together to learn and experience new things and to feel the magic of winter in the Highlands, while taking part in a wide range of fun events.
​Winterfest also provides an opportunity for local businesses to raise their profile within the local community and beyond, through sponsorship, running workshops or taking part in the opening night celebrations, with over 50 small businesses and community groups hosting or running events.
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Bundanoon Winterfest is a volunteer run, not for profit community event. As part of the Bundanoon Community Association. The Bundanoon Community Association is renowned for delivering a broad spectrum of events which attract an ever increasing local, state and national audience. BCA events range from large scale events such as Winterfest to outdoor events such as the Garden Ramble.
Winterfest is self-funding and relies mostly on sponsorship from local businesses, grants and donations. Please get in touch if your business would like to be part of this fabulous event!
Accesssibility
The Bundanoon Winterfest is a community event and welcomes everybody. Wingecarribee Shire Council and the Bundanoon Community Association is committed to making the Bundanoon Winterfest a safe, inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable event for all, and we are constantly working on ways to improve our festival site and the experience for all.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Festival Site
The Bundanoon Winterfest is held in the main shopping and restaurant area of Bundanoon, being located on Railway Parade and Church Street Bundanoon.
Paths of travel are either bitumen road or paved footpaths.
During peak periods the festival can be very crowded.
Parking
Designated accessible parking zones will be located close to the event near the entrances to the event – on/near Osborne Street & Railway Avenue and Osborne Avenue & Church Street. Other parking is unallocated around the main event area on the streets of Bundanoon.
The accessible parking areas will be displayed on the Winterfest map.
Accessible Toilets
Unisex accessible toilets are available at the permanent toilet block located on Osborne Avenue.
Assistance Animals
Trained, registered, and visibly identified assistance animals are welcome when accompanied by their handler.
Further Information
For further information on Accessibility & Disability within Wingecarribee Shire please visit https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Community/Accessibility-Disability
Winterfest Sustainability
The Bundanoon Community Association is proud of the work we have undertaken to continuously minimise the environmental impact of our community and reduce our footprint.
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Bundanoon – Plastic Free As We Can Be
Conceived to campaign and lead by example for the reduction of single-use plastics in Bundanoon by our local businesses and our community.
Plant-derived compostable carry bags, food wrap, coffee cups, cutlery, takeaway containers, sticky tape, and mailbags are readily available across all Bundanoon businesses.
We strongly encourage the move toward zero use of single use plastics. As of 1 July 2022, a total ban on single use plastic bags was enforced by the NSW Government, Wingecarriebee Shire Council requires all vendors at the 2023 Bundanoon Winterfest to offer alternate reusable bagging options or make use of the reusable bags provided by our team. For further information on Plastic Free as We Can be visit www.bca.asn.au
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In 2009 Bundanoon became the first community in Australia and the world to ban the sale of plastic water bottles.
Australia is the 2nd largest consumer of bottled water per capita in the world. Bundy on Tap works with local businesses to ensure the ban and encourages the community and visitors to use one of the three filtered water bubblers / drinking stations across the town. Reuseable water bottles are also supplied to students of the Bundanoon Primary School and are on sale in cafes on Railway Avenue. For further information on Bundy on Tap visit: www.bundyontap.com
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Things you can do to reduce your footprint at the Bundanoon Winterfest:
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Bring your own drink bottle to fill up at the free water refill stations.
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​Bring or buy a reusable coffee cup for your warm beverages.
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Leave the top off your takeaway coffee cup to reduce unnecessary plastic use.
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Follow the instructions on each bin when disposing of your waste
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Leave the car at home and walk to the event, or carpool with friends and family.
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Bring a reusable bag to the markets and events.
Winterfest Sponsors
Bundanoon Winterfest is a volunteer run, not for profit community event. As part of the Bundanoon Community Association, Winterfest needs to be self-funding, so relies mostly on sponsorship from local businesses, or grants and donations where available.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank our sponsors for helping to bring Winterfest to life and supporting our Winter festivities!
The Bundanoon Club is fixture of the culture of Bundanoon. The Club provides a high quality range of community facilities for community events and activities. Including lawn bowls, Yoga, fitness club, children's play group as well as Needles and Natter. The Club is also reknown across the Southern Highlands for dining at The Paddock - with chef Anthony Pellegrino. For further information visit https://www.bundanoonclub.com/
Bundanoon Winterfest is grateful to The Bundanoon Club for hosting the Bundanoon Winterfest Art Competition and sponsoring the illuminations across the Winterfest site.
Higland FM provides an eclectric mix of musicial, cultural, education and informative programming designed to entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of listerners. As an all-volunteer community based radio station Highlands FM provides a unique platform to reflect the Southern Highlands. For further information on Highlands FM https://www.highlandfm.org.au/
Southern Highlands FM has collaborated with Vocal Muster to provide the preformers for Winterfest 2023. They will be bringing 14 up and coming young artists to our performance pods across the Winterfest event site.
The Vocal Muster provides opportunities for young people to perform in a space where music and song can be created and enjoyed.
The Vocal Muster welcomes any young person wanting to join their activities. They provide an inclusive place where young talent can be inspired and nurtured. The Vocal Muster have attracted industry professionals to assist with workshops and Master Classes. The Vocal Muster do not charge for any of their activities. For some young people they provide free performance lessons. Find out more about The Vocal Muster.
The Bundanoon Hotel (originally known as The Commerical) was built soon after the railway line came to Bundanoon in 1868. It has been at the heart of Bundanoon ever since. The present iconic Bundanoon Hotel was built in 1922 on the original site.
In 2018 the new owners took the hotel through a refurbishment which retained the village charm and delivered a paired back, modernised style. The refurbishment pays homage to the Hotel's past by retaining the gorgeous timber elements of the Mock-Tudor and Arts & Crafts styles and sandstone blocks of the original 1922 building. For more information on The Bundanoon Hotel's accomodation, dining and bars visit https://www.bundanoonhotel.com.au/
The Bundanoon Hotel is a Gold Sponsor (Hospitality) of Bundanoon Winterfest 2023 - and sponsor of the Highland FM / Vocal Muster young performers appearing at Winterfest. Thank you Bundanoon Hotel and Team!
Ngununggula, meaning 'belonging' in the traditional language of the Gundungurra First Nations people, is the first regional art gallery in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. https://ngununggula.com/ We've partnered with the Ngunnunggla Gallery for the Bundanoon Winterfest Art Competition with the theme of "Belonging". Entries are now open for the art compeitition - link to page
G. J. Gardner Homes Southern Highlands specialises in building custom style homes for various styles, sizes, and budgets. With over 150+ new home designs available, they can tailor to your specific needs. They also offer knockdown rebuilds, allowing you to keep your location while getting a new home. Their passionate team of building professionals can assist you in finding the right house design or even desiging your own home from scratch. For more information visit https://www.gjgardner.com.au/home-builders/new-south-wales/southern-highlands-1806/
Thank you to G. J. Gardner Homes Southern Highlands for their sponsorship of the "chill out zone" in the Soliders' Memorial Hall during the Winterfest Street Party. Like all G. J. Gardern Homes the chill out zone will be a warm and welcoming space on a cold evening!
Winterfest Volunteers
Bundanoon Winterfest wouldn't happen without the commitment and energy of our volunteers. So a huge thank you to the following volunteers:
Alison Trotter
Victoria Trotter
Olivia Trotter
Annie Loguie
Ellen Melrose-Rae
Kate Hints
David Hints
Narelle Murray
Geoff Matruglio
Susan Gray
Lucy Bainger
Christine Berry
Barry Berry
Tessa Spencer
Darnita Phelan
Helen Lynch
Brownyn Richards
Josephine le Cheminant
David le Cheminant
Douglas Melrose-Rae
Andy Carnahan
Lyndell Guillano
With special thanks also to the Men's Shed Bundanoon, the Lions Club Bundanoon and the Rural Fire Service Bundanoon. It wouldn't be possible to have Winterfest without you.