Bathurst will be marking the 150th anniversary of the Ben Hall Raid of 1863. This raid saw some far reaching effects that changed people’s lives and the Government of the day. The weekend festival will have numerous activities over the three days including; re-enactments, talks, tours, historic bushranging and colonial displays and memorabilia, book launches.

As part of this festival a Ben Hall Raid Dinner will be held in the Beau Brown Pavilion at the Bathurst Showgrounds on Saturday 28 September. Guest speaker will be bushranger historian Mr Peter Smith presenting his talk ‘Heroes to Villains’. Tickets are $60 per person and the event is BYO. Colonial costumes are encouraged. To book dinner tickets please contact Bathurst District Historical Society on 02 6332 4755 or email [email protected] Updates about the Festival are available via e-newsletter. Contact Alan at [email protected]

Venue: Peak Hill Open Cut Experience

Contact: Tony Ellis 0427 697 636 or Betty Zdan 0407 072 813

Description: An Australian Street Luge downhill gravity sporting event to be held in Peak Hill. The down hill street luge time trials and races will be held with estimated top speeds reaching the 90kms per hour along a closed road at the Peak Hill Tourist Gold Mine.

For further details visit www.australianstreetluge.com

Boorowa’s traditional Woolfest adds bushranger recreations to the famous Running of the Sheep.

Canowindra is hosting the inaugural Robbers’ Jubilee in October to mark  the 150th anniversary of the Ben Hall gang’s activities.

Grenfell hosts the Grenfell Gold Fest in October, an excellent opportunity to “learn the story” of the history of gold and bushrangers in the Weddin Shire.

The upper end of Main St will be closed during the day with re-enactments and artefact displays. Blacksmith demonstration and leather whip making demonstration. Australian Heritage Dancers   will be performing in the street throughout the day

The Lachlan Living History Group will be performing a historical re-enactment in the main street. Cobb & Co. coach rides, guided tours of historic George Street, and bush poetry recitations throughout the day.

For more information: www.grenfell.org.au/goldfest

Kiandra is open over Easter 2014 Four Buildings – one positive future
For more information phone the Tumut and Region Visitor Centre 02 6947 702

Once again Harden will offer another dramatic Harden Gold Trail Event at the Murrumburrah Showground. The feature event will a bushranger re-enactment, with the fantastic horsemanship of locals.

For more information: www.visitharden.com.au

The Henry Lawson Festival is held on the June long weekend and celebrates Grenfell’s famous son, Henry Lawson, who was born on the Grenfell goldfield in 1867. The festival is an affordable family weekend of entertainment with something for everyone. The festival has an arts focus with national competitions and exhibitions in verse, short story, photography, art and porcelain.

A range of other activities are also on show including poetry performances and recitations, street procession, guinea pig racing, market stalls, street entertainment, drama performances, car show, stationary engines, antique machinery, live music, dance, busking, concerts, children’s rides, wood chop and a fun run are held in conjunction with the art competitions.

For more information: www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au