Folk festival readies return

CRESWICK is set to come alive again with music and culture when the town’s annual performing arts festival returns later this year.

With nearly 30 acts announced so far, CresFest will be back from Friday 5 to Saturday 7 April.

Now in its third year, CresFest committee president Mark Myers said the upcoming event will continue the organisers’ commitment to showcase the community’s musical culture.

“The philosophy behind it has always been to bring good music to Creswick and to have as much local involvement as possible,” he said.

“It’ll be similar to our previous festivals but there’ll be slightly different themes and events going on.

“Most of the acts this year are different to the previous two years. We try to get fresh acts ever year.”

Featured artists so far include Victorian acts like Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers, Thursday’s Child, and the John Flanagan Band, as well as overseas performers like Mélisande, and Linn Phipps.

More than a dozen venues will be utilised such as the Creswick Courthouse Theatre, Creswick Woolen Mills, and the town’s local RSL, and primary school hall.

CresFest was named Best Community Project in the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards and is up for Hepburn Shire’s Community Award the results of which will be revealed next week.

Mr Myers said the event has served as a great showcase for the town since its inception.

“We often get comments when we survey people afterwards about just how friendly everyone in town seems to be,” he said.

“It really puts a spotlight on the community and we hope it has benefits for the town all year round where people will see Creswick as a destination through this festival.

“The community’s really embraced it and we have a number of community music groups involved like the Creswick Folk and Acoustic Music Club, the local ukulele orchestra, and kids and adult choirs.

“We would’ve had at least 1200 people attending each day last year.”

Early bird tickets are on sale now at bit.ly/3RWTvxR.