Event Info
Take a look around, tell your favourite people and book your tickets. Any questions please drop us a line at info@townfolkfestival.com.
We can’t wait to see you.
Event Info – Playing Times
Check back closer to nov 21!
Event Info – Venues Map
The main stage is on the Sunken Oval, a wide open grassy space where you can plant a camping chair or picnic blanket for the day. The three other stages are a short walk away (within 350m of main stage) at The Bridge Hotel, Shedshaker Taproom and Boomtown Winery.
Event Info – Food and Drink
Plenty of options so eat up well and proper!
Some of our besties will be back and maybe a few new faces too. Full list of food trucks to be announced soon.
PLUS coffee by Sweet Caroline and, of course, the good stuff by Icecream Republic.
During Town Folk you can visit The Bridge Hotel for dine-in pub fare (check out the shaded beer garden), Boomtown Winery for BBQ lunch, or Shedshaker Taproom for italian (all day). Also in The Mill you’ll find drinks and snacks at Das Kaffeehaus (open until 4pm), Chocolate at Cabosse & Feve, Cheese at Long Paddock, Icecream Republic window, and baked treats from SPROUT bakery window.
The Sunken Oval Bar will be serving local beer, wine, spirits and cocktails all day.
Event Info – Merch
Town Folk Festival and artist merchandise will be available at the Sunken Oval or you can visit our online store HERE.
Event Info – Accessibility
Town Folk Festival aims to be an accessible festival for all. Below we have provided information that will be helpful in planning and attending our festival.
Please reach out at any time to let us know about any access requirements you may have and how we can assist either via email info@townfolkfestival.com.
Town Folk Festival Access Guide:
COMPANION CARDS
Companion Card holders are welcome. Once you have purchased your ticket, please email the confirmation along with your name and phone number to info@townfolkfestival.com, and we will process the companion ticket at no charge.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
All stages, entertainment, bar, and food areas are wheelchair accessible. The Sunken Oval has a slight incline to enter/exit, and a wheelchair track mat to the viewing platform. Assistance can be provided on request. A curb ramp will be situated on Walker Street at the pedestrian crossing.
VIEWING PLATFORM
On the Sunken Oval we will have a viewing platform for people with disability, or wheelchair users, this will mean you can see the main stage. We will also have chairs on the viewing platform, and friends/support workers can join you. There will also be wheelchair accessible flooring over the grass for wheelchair users.
TOILETS
The nearest accessible toilets are:
– At the Sunken Oval main toilet block left of the main stage
– At the Sunken Oval viewing platform
– The Mill Precinct right next to Boomtown, open 24 hours
– Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, open 24 hours
– Shedshaker Taproom, open throughout the event
PARKING
Accessible Parking is available on Cornish Street alongside the Sunken Oval at the Walker Street end. Map of exact location here. If you have an Accessible Parking sticker on your car you can book a spot by emailing info@townfolkfestival.com
AUSLAN
All performances on the main stage will be Auslan interpreted. The smaller stages will not be interpreted. Please contact info@townfolkfestival.com for more information.
ASSISTANCE ANIMALS
Assistance and Companion animals are welcome. The animals should be wearing a harness, lead, or a coat identifying them as assistance animals. Clearly marked drinking stations will be provided for assistance animals.
SENSORY ZONE
Although there is no designated quiet zone, the Botanic Gardens (1 min walk from festival entrance) provides a peaceful environment to take respite. Be on the lookout for the vine igloo by the lake hideaway – a good low sensory refuge.
SOCIAL STORY
If anyone would like a social story before the event, please contact info@townfolkfestival.com. Social stories include event details with visual supports, sensory considerations, detailed venue access info, and what to expect from the festival.
VENUE INFO:
THE BRIDGE HOTEL
The Bridge Hotel front bar and band room are located on ground level and are accessible for wheelchair users. Similarly, the beer garden is accessible via a side gate on Walker Street. This gate is unlocked and can be opened at any time by the public.
The male toilet is situated on the ground floor. The female toilet is up three steps in the hallway beyond the band room. Unfortunately, there is currently no designated accessible toilet.
SHEDSHAKER TAPROOM
Shedshaker Taproom is an accessible venue from the front door.
BOOMTOWN WINERY
Shedshaker Taproom is an accessible venue from the front door. There are steps outside the east door which will be the main point of entry. To avoid these enter the building at the northern end and reach Boomtown via the hallway. Accessible toilets are located in this hallway too.
TRAIN STATION
Castlemaine Train Station is accessible, it’s approximately 1.2 km away from the festival. If you’re a wheelchair user, you are encouraged to use the footpaths on Kennedy Street (east side) and Walker Street (south side) to travel between train station and festival. You will need to cross several roads on this journey.
Event Info – Nalderun
Dja Dja Wurrung are the Traditional Caretakers of the Mount Alexander Shire, the family within the Mount Alexander Shire is the Nelson Family and our local Elder is Uncle Rick Nelson. Town Folk Festival is proud to support Nalderun, a service that supports the local Aboriginal Community, led by Aboriginal people, with donations each year. If you can we encourage you to read more about Nalderun and make a donation HERE.
Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation:
“We run many services that support the person and family. We feel it is important to actively listen to the community and they will tell us what they need. We are also involved in many services for the rest of the community. Many people in the Mount Alexander community are also incredibly supportive of us, this is why our name means ‘altogether’.”
Uncle Rick will perform a Welcome To Country at the Sunken Oval during Town Folk Festival.
Event Info – Sustainability
Town Folk Festival is committed to leaving the tiniest footprint possible. By employing environmentally ethical practices and using local, planet-friendly businesses to help us, we hope to collaboratively create a festival that doesn’t cause havoc for the environment.
Wash Against Waste:
All food and hot drinks will be served on re-usable crockery which will be collected, cleaned and sterilized on-site by the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group’s famous Wash Against Waste trailer. This approach will minimize use of so-called ‘compostible’ packaging which in actual fact takes a very long time to break down even in the hottest of compost.
Our friends at YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) Castlemaine, a project of local non-profit The Hub Foundation, will collect the food scraps and process them through their network of local community composters.
CANS
All beer and spirits will be served in cans which will be recycled at the end of the festival. Refund scheme earnings will help YIMBY buy straw and other ingredients for their compost heaps around town.
TRAIN TRAVEL
For Castlemaine visitors, Town Folk Festival is encouraging train travel as your most world-saving option. There are plenty of services running between Southern Cross and Bendigo to bring you in and home.
SHUTTLE BUS
This year Town Folk is running it’s own festival transport to and from Melbourne. Grab yourself a spot on the bus [ticket hyperlink] to guarantee your travel for the whole day.
To further reduce car use Town Folk is providing a shuttle service between Camp Town Folk (Campbells Creek Rec Reserve) and the festival. Route map HERE.
CAR POOL
If you decide to drive, offer to pick up your mates and travel together.
WATER
There will be a water refill station on-site. Bring your water bottle like a champion.
FAQ
What time does all the fun happen?
Town Folk Festival is a one day event. The Sunken Oval/Main Stage gates open at 11.00am and close at 11pm. Shedshaker, Boomtown & The Bridge stages will run throughout the day time. DJs will be spinning in between sets and later in the venues. Full set times will be posted here in due course.
Where is this thing?
Town Folk Festival is happening across multiple venues on Walker Street in the grassy end of Castlemaine. The Sunken Oval, Boomtown Winery, Shedshaker Brewery and The Bridge Hotel are all within a short walk (350m) of each other. All three venues will have food and drink options available. See more info on the Travel page.
Can I buy a ticket at the gate?
Not if it sells out in advance : )
Is town folk an all-ages event?
Yes. Very family friendly. However, given this is a licensed event all youth and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Do i need to buy a ticket for my child?
Children under 2 on Nov 21 do not require tickets.
Ages 2 to 7 (as of Nov 21) will require a pre-booked Kids ticket ($20 +booking fee).
Ages 8 to 17 will require a pre-booked Youth ticket ($35 +bf).
What entertainment will there be for kids?
Kid Folks corner will have a variety of activities throughout the day including mini golf, puppet making, mask making and junk journals.
Are there concession tickets available?
No, we do not have concession tickets available.
Is Town Folk and accessible event?
We hope so. There will be disabled parking, Auslan interpreters on the main stage, viewing platform, Companion Tickets, Wheelchair track mat and more. Please see our Accessibility Guide here.
Can I bring my dog?
No, sadly furry friends will need to stay home for this one. Assistance animals are allowed, please see Accessibility Guide for more information.
I have a food truck/stall. How do I get a spot?
Food vendor applications are accepted via info@townfolkfestival.com
I would like to volunteer, how do i?
Great, thank you! Volunteer registrations will open on our Volunteer page in June.
Does volunteering get you a ticket?
Yes, volunteering is working for your ticket! Plus you get a Town Folk volunteer crew tshirt and a warm fuzzy feeling.
I bought a ticket but can’t find the confirmation email?
Check your junk/spam/promotions folder, you should receive confirmation within minutes of purchasing your tickets. If still no luck please email info@townfolkfestival.com
We can re-issue tickets at the gate with valid ID.
Can I bring my own chair to the festival?
Yes. Camping chairs, low chairs and any equivalent is allowed. There will be a designated “chair zone” where these can be situated for the day. Once this zone is full we cannot guarantee a chair spot so please arrive early if bringing a chair.
Can I bring my own alcohol to the festival?
No. TFF is a licensed festival, bringing together breweries, pubs, winemakers and distilleries. This means no BYO. Please show your support and respect by not bringing your own.
Can I bring my own food to the festival?
Yes, but you will be missing out on the food truck extravaganza we are planning.
How do I find out when and where artists are playing?
Closer to the event playing times will be posted here. We will also have printed programs on the day
Where can I refill my water bottle?
There will be a water refill station at the Sunken Oval
Can I park near the festival area?
Designated festival parking is on Richards Road at the Don KR factory. A free shuttle bus will transport you from there to the festival (2 mins drive)
Will taxis be running after the festival?
Castlemaine Taxis will be running as usual, but be prepared for long wait times if arranging pick up in busy periods. Call 5472 3377
Passouts?
You may leave and come back as you wish throughout the event. Bags will be checked each time you enter the Sunken Oval.
Will the festival go ahead in bad weather?
TFF will go ahead rain, hail or shine. Luckily, we expect it to shine.
I have grievances. To whomst may I aire them to?
For complaints and feedback, please contact us at info@townfolkfestival.com We strive to learn, grow and build ourselves and our festival community to be better. If you have comments to help us get there, we’d love to hear them!
There’s someone or something making me feel unsafe or uncomfortable – who can help me?
If you need assistance or see someone else who needs help, please alert volunteers or security so that they might arrange for the appropriate help to be given.
24H festival help text line: 0432658353
I have bought several tickets – do we need to arrive all together?
E-tickets will be scanned by staff. If arriving separately it is up to you to ensure each person in your group has their e-ticket with barcode ready to scan.
