Youth festival ready to glow

LIVE music, skate workshops, market stalls and food trucks are in store for the first BendiGlow Youth Festival this Saturday.

Going from 2pm to 9pm and presented by YO Events, the City of Greater Bendigo’s FReeZA team, the event is run by young people, for young people at Canterbury Park and the McKern Skate Park, Eaglehawk.

FReeZA is a State Government initiative and aims to create drug, smoke, and alcohol-free events for people aged 15 to 25.

YO Bendigo’s Teddy Transcendent said it’s the team’s biggest event to date.

“I’m so excited to see it all come together,” they said. “We’ve been working on it for quite a while with our events production crew and it’s the first time we’ve put something together on this scale.

“We’ve done lots of gigs inside and different market days, but to have the whole festival organised by our team, it’s a great celebration for us, it’s a big achievement.”

Representatives of the Victorian Skateboarding Association will hold free All Aboard skate workshops, for beginners to give the sport a go.

Workshop participants also have the chance to win a free deck, courtesy of Skip’s Skateboard Shop.

Melbourne-based heavy rock band The Last Martyr headlines the festival, supported by local bands including Pasquito, The Dream Dilemma and Frank Bell.

The Dream Dilemma’s Zak Rivas said he can’t wait to get on stage.

“I’m pretty proud and excited to play in front of people and get the word out of who we are and the other amazing bands that pay with us,” he said.

“We’re excited to have fun with people, even if only five people come, I’ll still dance with them. It’s all about having a fun time for us.”

Tickets are free but $5 after 6pm. For more information visit yobendigo.com.au/BendiGLOW.

YO Bendigo is the municipality’s youth services organisation and along with events the body also runs the City’s youth council and plays a part in local Youth Week Activities.