Armidale Light Festival
What’s on inArmidale?

Armidale Events

Click to view the Summer 2024/25 events calendar! (PDF 1MB), or view the list below.

No matter what time of year you visit, chances are there will be an event or festival in or around Armidale.

Events not to be missed include the Autumn Festival, Big Chill Festival, The Bach Festival, The New England Garden Festival, Armidale International Film Festival and Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival. Other great annual events include New England Sings, The Armidale Cup, Guyra Trout Festival, Armidale Youth Orchestra Garden Party, Vintage Truck, Machinery and Heavy Horse Show and the NEGS Equestrian events. The calendar is full with premier sport events including the TAS Rugby Carnivals, Tour de Rocks and the 12hr Mountain Bike Enduro.

Have an event to add to the calendar?

TaikOz

Lazenby Hall University of New England, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Side by Side TaikOz is one of Australia’s most exciting and visually stunning drumming groups. Combining traditional Japanese taiko drumming with contemporary Australian music, all TaikOz’s performances are a feast of visual, aural and physical energy. In this special performance, thunderous taiko drums meets soulful flute, sonorous handpan, dynamic movement - enveloped in colourful light-sculptures. The virtuosity is thrilling but even better is the sense of pure joy the players transmit.” – Weekend Australian “You don’t just listen to this […]

$25 – $55

Jazz, Blues & Alt. Grooves @ the Dog

Welder's Dog Bar cnr Marsh and Rusden Streets, ARMIDALE, NSW

Come and enjoy jazz at one of Armidale's grooviest venues. Borderline features Ian Russell on vocals and guitar, Gary Daley on drums, Dave Cooper on bass and Mick Houlahan on guitar and vocals. The band plays a range of classic material by artists like The Doors, Santana, Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Van Morrison, as well as original songs. Music washes away the dust of everyday life - Art Blakey

Free

Cary Bennett Trio @ Tatts

Garden Bar, Tattersals Hotel 174 Beardy Street Mall, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

The Cary Bennett Trio is back! The Trio features the musical artistry of James Brinkhoff on piano, Wendy Griffiths on double bass and Cary Bennett on vocals and drums, performing classic popular songs from the 1930 through to the 1970s, tunes made famous by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr and others. Come for a great afternoon of fabulous food, music and drinks. The band kick off at 6pm on the Beer […]

Free

The Imprints @ Big Welders Dog

Welder's Dog Brew Bar and Entertainment Centre 101 Beardy Street, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

The Imprints are back, consisting of locally born and internationally trained violinist, Willow Stahlut (ex Gypsy Hot Club), and nationally regarded musician/percussionist, Linden Lester. From many appearances at Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe, Big Day Out, Splendour, across North America, Berlin, Copenhagen, above the Arctic Circle, deep in the tropics and again at next Woodford Festival...this will be an exceptional night. Dynamic violin and drum kit duo. World music meets dance music.

Free

WEMBO World Solo MTB Championships

Sport UNE Mountain Bike Trails University of New England, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

This year Armidale will host the World Solo 24-hour Mountain Bike Championships. This world-wide competition is recognized by mountain bikers, spectators, the cycling industry and media as the pinnacle of the sport. Racing will be conducted under the control and management of the New England Mountain Bikers (NEMTB).

Free

Woodford Folk Festival @ the Playhouse

The Armidale Playhouse 309 Beardy Street (cnr Ohio Street), ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Plague and the Moonflower An 80-voice adult choir, 44-voice children's choir, 56-piece orchestra with didgeridoo, 24 dancers, 3 jugglers, 3 actors, a narrator, 5 soloists (2 sopranos, boy soprano, violin and guitar). The Gypsy Hot Club 5-piece band, fire eater, 5 tonne tip truck, a crew of 35 and 100 extra family and friends, 40 microphones, 4 cameras, a gigantic mixer; 3 huge props including a 6m-high Plague Demon built from 3,00 plastic shopping  bugs. Bill Hauritz: Armidale's Plague and […]

$20.50

Armidale Birdwatching Group

Sunnyside TSR Tilbuster, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Departure at 8.00am from the Visitor Information Centre carpark, 82 Marsh Street. Bring food (morning tea and lunch), water, binoculars, sunscreen and hat, and wear stout shoes. The scheduled visit may be changed or cancelled if conditions on the day are likely to affect the excursion.

Studio Folk Club – Jessie May

Boobooks Books and Coffee Shop 176 Beardy Street Mall, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Come and enjoy jazz at one of Armidale's grooviest venues. Jessie May is an Armidale gal who has recently returned from four years of teaching music in the Red Centre and three months living in Nashville, Tennessee. Hear Jessie share songs of the New England, Northern Territory and American travels. She has picked up some new skills and tunes and cannot wait to share them with a home crowd.

Free

Homestead Series 3 – Rampsbeck Homestead

Rampsbeck Homestead Waterfall Way, Wollomombi, NSW, Australia

NECOM's Homestead Series offers a rare chance to immerse yourself in a magical combination of fine chamber music and local history. An outstanding example of a contemporary homestead built in 2016 by the Evans family on the original house site of the Rampsbeck homestead in Wongwibinda. Designed by regional architect Alexandra Murray the house was built to capture the sun in winter through its passive solar design and the views to the north west. In keeping with the contemporary setting […]

$75

MS Melbourne Cup Lunch

Armidale City Bowling Club 92-96 Dumaresq Street, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Lunch 12.30pm. Please come along for a delicious two-course lunch, Fleece to Fashion parade and race day fun. All funds will go to supporting local people living with MS.

$60

Anh Do – “The Happiest Refugee”

Lazenby Hall University of New England, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Age: 7+ - Anh Do’s bestselling book The Happiest Refugee has made readers laugh and cry, and was described by Russell Crowe as 'the most surprising and inspiring read I have had in years.' Anh’s stage show takes it a step further, combining stand-up comedy with real life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell his amazing story. When one of Australia’s most talented comedians delves deep into his own life’s joys and sorrows, the result is an unforgettable night […]

$65.40 – $70.40

Jazz, Blues & Alt. Grooves @ the Dog

Welder's Dog Bar cnr Marsh and Rusden Streets, ARMIDALE, NSW

Come and enjoy jazz at one of Armidale's grooviest venues. The Organismics features the artistry of Warwick Durham on organ, Steve Thorneycroft on guitar and Cary Bennett on drums, who together reboot some of the classic soul jazz, R&B, funk and LA lounge grooves of the 1960s and 70s for a marvellous night of music. This is classic organ-based trio at its best. Music washes away the dust of everyday life - Art Blakey

Free
Event Series Fiori Musicali @ NERAM

Fiori Musicali @ NERAM

New England Regional Art Museum 106-114 Kentucky Street, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

An evening of an art and music. Conducted by Inga Brasche, Fiori Musicali will present a special concert of music inspired by the artwork of the Howard Hinton Collection in celebration of Howard Hinton’s birthday and NERAM’s 40th Anniversary. Staged in the beautiful Wonders of Hinton exhibition and including music by Cole Porter, Anders Edenroth, Mozart, Susan LaBarr, Christopher Tin, Craig Hella Johnson, Stephen Sondheim, Z. Randall Stroope and Stephen Paulus with accompanying artwork introductions by NERAM Director Rachael Parsons, the evening […]

$20.50 – $30.50
Event Series “The Pied Piper”

“The Pied Piper”

The Lodge Theatre 119A Barney Street, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Another great show for children and adults. A new twist on an old tale. Still the same villains, only worse. Smart children who discover how to thrive in adversity and plenty of rats. Adapted by Gordon Cope with original music by Robert Thompson.

$10.50 – $60.50
Event Series Bundarra Garden Festival

Bundarra Garden Festival

Various ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Map available. $20pp (entry all gardens), $5pp (per garden), free (under 18) - 6 gardens (paid entry), 2 gardens (free); $5pp (Court House and Bottle Museums). For more information, phone Andrea on 0451 857 216 or Tania on 0407 054 527. Charity Event - all money raised will go to local charities. Open gardens in and out of town. Devonshire teas at the CWA Café at Seekers Garden and Nursery, garden lunches at Bundarra Commercial Hotel; coffee and light meals […]

$5 – $20

Remembrance Day

Memorial Fountain, Central Park Dangar Street, ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

A wreath laying will be part of the service. Guest Speaker will be the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers. Should the weather be inclement, the service will be held in the Town Hall, 127 Rusden Street. 10.30am   Memorial Fountain, Central Park, Dangar Street - Remembrance service 11.00am   Silence for the fallen - bells toll 11 times.

Book Launch

Café Patisserie 80 Rusden Street (cnr Taylor Street), ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Sophie Beaumont (Masson) and Ultimo Press, in collaboration with Reader's Companion Bookshop, warmly invite you to attend the launch of Sophie's book, The Paris Cooking School. Refreshments will be provided, including French-style finger food, sweet and savory. Reader's Companion will sell books on the day, but books can be purchased beforehand from the bookshop and brought to the launch for signing. Please RSVP prior to 9 November.

Free

Baroque Curios, Gems and Genius

The Armidale Playhouse 309 Beardy Street (cnr Ohio Street), ARMIDALE, NSW, Australia

Come, sit back, relax and be taken on a journey through baroque curiosities and gems. Works by Bach, Baron and Weiss; some you may find familiar arranged in new ways, and some rarely heard, all framed by pertinent narratives. Sarah Lawrence – Narration; Alana Blackburn – Recorders; Steve Thorneycroft – Guitar; Sofia Debus - Cello

$25 – $30
Event Series Australian Bush Poetry Film Festival

Australian Bush Poetry Film Festival

Australian Poetry Hall of Fame 144 Bradley Street, GUYRA, NSW, Australia

The Film Festival is an event entirely devoted to the celebration and showcasing of bush poetry film. Poetry film or video poetry is a fast-growing art form that combines poetry, moving images, sound and music. An invitation is extended to film makers and poets of any age and background to participate in the inaugural Festival. In particular, the submission of innovative and eclectic takes on bush poetry film as a distinct media form is encouraged.

Event Series Poets on the Mountain Festival @ Guyra

Poets on the Mountain Festival @ Guyra

Australian Poetry Hall of Fame 144 Bradley Street, GUYRA, NSW, Australia

Featuring:  14-17 November - Poetry Writing and Performance Workshops; 18-19 November - ABPA-NSW Bush Poetry Championships; 12 November - NEWC Presents: Poets Walkabout; Australia's top poets' performances; Australian Poetry Film Festival, Poet's Breakfast, walkups, music and more.