Victoria’s 2025 cultural calendar is brimming with food, music and art festivals set against the idyllic backdrop of regional Victoria—think rolling hills and plenty of small-town charisma. Melbourne may reign as the foodie capital, but with festivals dedicated to cheese, freshly plucked grapes and organic wines, there’s no reason to ditch the city for a weekend (or two).
Some of these events can be tricky to track down, so we’ve done the legwork and pulled together a lineup of the best cultural festivals and visits around. Grab your mates, hit the road and get ready to eat your way across Victoria.
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Without further ado, here's the 2025 lineup of the best festivals in Victoria so far:
Castlemaine Fringe Festival, Castlemaine
Saturday 22 March— Sunday 6 April
Image: Castlemaine Fringe Festival | Supplied
The Castlemaine Fringe Festival is a Victorian cultural staple, it’s been running for a good 30 years, spotlighting independent artists, musicians and creatives alike—all grounded in a celebration of the community and local talent.
The 2025 line-up is no different, there are 160 events spanning music, theatre, literature, film, stand-up comedy and dance acts to name a few, all unfolding across the steps of Castlemaine Town Hall, Mechanics Lane and the Community House Precinct. The street party will kick off the festival with three main stages hosting a smorgasbord of bands and DJs. The schedule’s packed, so download it in advance .
Grampians Grape Escape, Halls Gap
Friday 2 May—Sunday 4 May
Image: Grampians Grape Escape | Supplied
In a full-blown celebration of regional food, artisan wine and live music, the is a rite of passage for aficionados of the kind. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Grampians National Park, this is one of Victoria’s longest-running food and wine festivals, and it's showing no signs of slowing down.
Think 90+ stalls packed with local producers, passionate winemakers pouring boutique drops and a village brimming with local Aussie music, food trucks, cooking demos and exhibitor masterclasses. Whether you’re getting your feet dirty in the grape stomping contest, indulging in the complimentary tastings or bidding at the Grampians Winemakers Shiraz Barrique auction, you’ll find plenty to keep your glass full here.
Benalla Street Art Festival, Benalla
Friday 11 April—Sunday 13 April
Image: Benalla Street Art Festival | Supplied
A riot of colour, creativity and culture is set to hit Benalla as the returns this April, turning the town into one massive open-air gallery for three days. Since its 2015 debut, Benalla has become a street art mecca with 85 large-scale murals already dotted across town.
This year, they’re raising the stakes. With Eddie Zammit—a creative legend with 25 years in the game, at the helm, the 2025 festival will unveil 10 brand-new murals and showcase a fresh lineup of cutting-edge artists (dropping soon). Lace up your kicks and explore at your own pace using the festival’s self-guided tour map or dive deeper with a guided walking tour—book .
Macedon Ranges Music Festival, Hanging Rock
Saturday 29 March
Image: Macedon Ranges Music Festival | Supplied
What started as a casual jam session with local mates in Gisborne evolved into the . While the event has evolved in size and scope—bringing in an expert sound crew, food trucks and a new location at Hanging Rock—its core mission remains the same: raising funds for the Cambodian Kids Foundation.
Emma Donovan, Steph Strings, Hot Potato Band, Fools, Son Quba and Joshua Balten are set to headline amongst a few other bands—it’s a killer lineup of incredible talent. Secure your tickets .
Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, Macedon Ranges
Tuesday 1 April—Wednesday 30 April
It’s all happening in the Macedon Ranges. Kicking off the day after the is the —an amalgamation of pretty much everything you can think of: culinary events, destination gardens, artisanal workshops, farmers markets, guided walks and gallery exhibitions—there’s no shortage of events.
With nine food and drink villages to explore, this festival is a choose-your-own-adventure for your taste buds. The best strategy? Snag a and let your appetite lead the way. You can tackle Australia’s biggest Pie & Tart Trail, get adventurous on the Edgy Veg Trail, or sip your way through the Tipple Trail—it’s all about celebrating the best of autumn’s bounty.
The Great Trentham Spudfest, Trentham
Saturday 3 May—Sunday 4 May
Image: The Great Trentham Spudfest | Supplied
In a celebration of all things spud, honours the humble vegetable and the town’s agricultural roots in its 17th iteration of this potato-loving festival. It’s set to bring together artisans, music, food vendors, local potato growers and plenty of carbs.
Saturday is dedicated to the street fair located in the centre of town, there’s four precincts of fresh regional produce, live music, the Spud Olympics and in the evening local chef Annie Smithers is putting on a four-course feast, centering the hero crop at her restaurant DU Fermier. While the Great Spud Scavenger Hunt, gnocchi-making classes and farm gate foodie trails are all happening on the Sunday.
Big Tree Distillery, Newham
Saturday 6 April & April 26
Nothing beats a Sunday session, especially down at in Newham—a rural Victorian town known for its lush landscapes and local wineries. On April 6 you can expect a night of woodfired pizzas, G&Ts and some good live music. On April 26, Big Tree Distillery is hosting another gin-centered event, Sunset Cocktail and Canapes. You’ll be sipping on expertly crafted cocktails featuring award-winning farm-crafted gin, paired with gourmet morsels whilst looking out over the Cobaw Ranges, with more live music from Sugarloaf Creek.
La Fiera Italian Festival, Myrtleford
Friday 16 May—Sunday 18 May
Image: La Fiera Italian Festival | Supplied
is set to grace our May calendars for another year, bringing a taste of Italy to the Alpine region in a series of Italian-themed dinner parties and dances. Following a successful national tour in 2024, James Liotta’s comedy show will commence the three-day event on Friday. Saturday’s LaFesta Food and Wine event will feature authentic Italian cuisine and Italian classics on the music front, while Sunday wraps up with Il Mercato, a farmers market showcasing regional wines and local produce.
CresFest, Creswick
Friday 4 April—Sunday 6 April
Image: Cresfest | Supplied
Get ready to groove at 2025, the roots and folk music festival that brings the heritage town of Creswick alive over three days. Neil Murray, The Maes, Joe Geia perform and international acts like Catriona McKay (UK) and Grassy Strings (India) are set to headline. But it’s not all passive listening—get involved with workshops to brush up on your singing, dancing, or instrument skills. It’s a celebration of all things music, with a seriously stacked lineup.
Lake House & Dairy Flat Farm, Daylesford
Every Monday During Autumn
Nestled amongst the lush landscapes of Daylesford, is putting on a farm-to-plate multi-course lunch experience every Monday for the entirety of autumn, along with a complimentary guided tour of their neighbour Dairy Flat Farm and their regenerative practices.
The a la carte menu has been meticulously curated by their vast garden, supplying the chefs with fresh veggies, herbs and flowers. Expect to meet a few animals too—geese, peacocks and alpacas, before settling into the long, leisurely lunch.
Tinamba Food and Wine Festival, Tinamba
Sunday 6 April
Picture this: a street party with local artisan producers, live music, acclaimed restaurants and food vendors, all coming together in one charming spot—this is the . Set in the heart of Gippsland’s Wellington Shire, known for its strong agricultural heritage, this festival is one of the region’s anticipated events, with epic events like the heli-flight over local wineries with sweeping views of Lake Glenmaggie.
And don't even think about the hassle of driving. The festival's got you covered with buses connecting you to all the action, plus easy train links from Melbourne through Traralgon and other Gippsland spots.
Malmsbury Village Fayre, Malmsbury
Sunday 27 April
Image: Malmsbury Village Fayre | Supplied
If a charming country day out is your jam, is where it’s at. Set in the historic Malmsbury Botanic Gardens and Town Hall, this annual autumn celebration is a feast for the senses—and not just because of the 14 food and drink vendors. We’re talking Cuban beats from Son Quba, fiddles and guitars courtesy of Tommy Castle and Carl Dickens and even a marimba jam. You can browse over 50 stalls featuring local artisan goods, park yourself on a picnic rug with some grub or get swept up in family-friendly fun.
Kyneton Hotel x Granite Hills Winery Lunch, Kyneton
Friday 25 April
Fancy Fridays are getting an upgrade at the Kyneton Hotel this April, as they team up with Granite Hills Winery to celebrate 50 vintages of top-tier cool-climate wines. It all started back in the late ’60s, when grazier-turned-vintner Gordon Knight swapped sheep for Shiraz and planted a vineyard that’s still thriving today, thanks to his family keeping the Granite Hills legacy alive.
Enjoy a boozy five-course lunch crafted by Chef Tim Austin, with optional wine pairings. It’s all Italian-inspired and has been designed to complement Granite Hills’ award-winning drops. Book your spot .
East Gippsland Winter Festival, East Gippsland
20 June—20 July
Image: East Gippsland Winter Festival | Naomi Rahim
Winter might not have summer’s charm, but that’s no reason to hibernate—especially when the will have you embracing the cold like it's the best thing since a heated blanket. It’s an epic month-long celebration of light, food, music and art. Think glowing hand-made lanterns, reality-bending projection art, surprise live music gigs, pop-up feasts, creative workshops and lakeside wellness sessions.
The full drops in May, but for now, mark your calendars with highlight events like the Fire and Ice at Metung Village.
Comedy in the Vines, Nagambie
Friday 8 November—Sunday 10 November
Image: Comedy In The Vines | Supplied
is back at Mitchelton Wines in Nagambie this November and it’s shaping up to be an absolute cracker. We’re talking three days of top-tier comedians, live music, food trucks, camping and endless glasses of cool-climate vino from local legends like Mitchelton Estate and Fowles Wines.
The laughs will be flowing faster than the Shiraz, with a killer lineup of Aussie and international talent hitting the riverside stage. Expect gut-busting sets from the likes of UK comedy legend Jen Brister, Joel Creasey, Mel Buttle, Rove and NZ’s Melanie Bracewell—plus plenty more joke-slinging stars ready to leave you in stitches.
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