Opening Night

Be there as the majestic lantern parade winds it’s way through the Winter Playground, Kings Parade and Machattie Park before finishing in front of the Bathurst Court House for the Official Opening of the 2024 Bathurst Winter Festival.

The parade will feature lanterns by regional artists, local school students and members of the Bathurst community.

When: From approx. 5.15pm

The 2024 Bathurst Winter Festival will be officially opened with an Opening Ceremony in front of the Bathurst Court House. Be there as the festival comes to life for the first time and see the illuminations light up the CBD!

When: Approx. 5.45pm

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of musical brilliance as the Bowman Dental All Schools Stage showcases the extraordinary musical talent from each of Bathurst's renowned high schools, including Mackillop College, St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst High School, Kelso High School and Scots All Saints College. 

Don't miss this opportunity to witness the very best of our student talent in a mesmerizing display of musical artistry.

Stage Line-up

4pm | Kelso High School Concert Band | Kelso High School
4:40pm | Jaime | Mackillop College
5:10pm | Ava & Audrey | Mackillop College
6:15pm | Hannah & Sarah | MacKillop College
6:50pm | Nate Duo | St Stanislaus’ College
7:25pm | Da Ramma Jammas | St Stanislaus’ College & Mackillop College
8pm | The Invisible Bees | Scots All Saints College

Find out more

Proudly sponsored by Bowman Dental.

Curly Potatoes | Curly potatoes on a stick

Epic Wedges | Wedges, salt & pepper squid, fish & chips and chips & gravy

Harvest Café & Store | Burgers, loaded mac & cheese, and loaded fries

Little Vintage Blends | Coffee, muffin & sweets

Macau Sweet Street Bites |

Rolling Schnitzel | Schnitzel in snack packs, wraps, burgers and fries

Romanian Delights | Hot sweet & savoury crepes

Swirl & Dip | Ice Cream, coffee, milkshakes and slushies

Turkish Gozleme House | Gozleme

Trang Hue | Vietnamese street food

VK Cobbs & Co | Mini cobb loaves with various fillings

Bathurst Grange Distillery | Gin & Tonic, whisky, liqueurs

Beekeepers Mead & Beer | Beer and Honey Mead

Cosmo Brewing | Beer

Reckless Brewing Co. | Beer

Renzaglia Wines | Red wine, white wine, mulled wine

Small Acres Cyder | Pomme Apple Cider, Poire Pear Cider, Heritage Blend Apple Cider, Golden Knot Non -Alcoholic Ciders, Mulled Cider

4pm - 7pm | JustCircus interactive circus shows

4pm - 9pm | Bowman Dental All Schools Stage 

4:45pm | Professional ice skaters show

5:15 - 5:45pm | Lantern Parade

5:45pm | Official Opening & Welcome to Country

6pm | Illuminations turn on for the first time

6pm - 9pm | Roving LED performers

6pm - 9pm | Silent disco

6:45pm | Professional ice skaters show

7:45pm | Professional ice skaters show

Dance the night away at the Silent Disco located in the forecourt of the Bathurst Court House.

Choose your channel and dance like nobody's watching as the colours of the Court House illumination splash over you.

When: 6pm – 9pm

Note: A deposit is required to enter the silent disco. Please make sure you bring cash, your driver’s licence or a credit card.

Be the first to skate on the freshly built McDonald's Bathurst Ice Rink.

Sessions run 9am - 9pm daily, with last session starting at 8pm.

Book now

See Bathurst's historic buildings light up for the first time in 2024 as the illuminations are officially switched on at 6pm.

Walk the illumination light walk to see the buildings come alive with colour as stunning light shows play across their walls.

When: 6pm – 10pm

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Get your adrenaline pumping in the Winter Playground!

See the festival from above from the Giant Ferris Wheel, ride the enchanting two-storey carousel, brave the Sizzler, take a spin on the Tea Cups or get bouncy on the jumping castles.

Find out more