Our annual Benalla Festival will be celebrated over two weekends from 29 October – 6 November 2022. The Festival celebrates all that is great about our Rural City. Events are a collaboration of community efforts that encompass art, music, dance, history, sport, family attractions, exhibitions and much more.
The Benalla Festival is run by the Council and overseen by the community-based Benalla Festival Advisory Committee.
The Benalla Festival Advisory Committee is now accepting applications to run events or activities as part of the Benalla Festival. We want to hear from interested businesses, community groups, social groups, sporting groups, schools and service organisations.
This year’s Benalla Festival theme is Our Community, Our Future. A chance to reimagine, reconnect and celebrate.
We all have a special place in our hearts for the Benalla Festival. This year, some elements of the Festival will be changed to accommodate any COVIDSafe event requirements. We look to these changes as an opportunity to reimagine how we connect with our community through celebration. We remain committed to a great Benalla Festival and celebrate new beginnings.
The Festival program will highlight our rural communities with events across our townships during the Festival’s first weekend from Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 October 2022. The second weekend will feature events in Benalla from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 November.
We are aiming to offer a diverse range of community events and activities at various locations throughout the rural city.
COVIDSafe settings will be in place following Victorian Government guidelines at the time.
Rural events
To highlight our rural communities on the first weekend we are inviting organisations/groups to be creative and host an event on the first weekend. It could be on the Saturday night to open the festival or during the weekend.
Financial support may be available for a proposal of a larger scale event with general support offered for smaller scale events through marketing and promotion.
Benalla events
Featured events in Benalla on Saturday 5 November will include a Lake Benalla family fun fishing day, an afternoon/evening event at the Lake Benalla Foreshore on Saturday 5 November and the 'A Day in the Gardens' Market on Sunday 6 November
When you hold an event as part of the Benalla Festival, you are part of the major event series on the Benalla Rural City calendar. There are many benefits to facilitating an event as part of the Benalla Festival.
Marketing
We provide marketing, print media, advertising and media opportunities that promote each of the events that comprise the Festival. Event organisers are encouraged to take out their own additional advertising. Events will be promoted in the Benalla Festival Program, which will be distributed throughout Benalla Rural City, the wider region and via benallafestival.com.au and social media. This year we are planning on strengthening the Festival’s brand to promote across the many diverse communities across our region and beyond.
Support
We support organisers to obtain Council permits required to deliver events.
Grant opportunities
Community Sponsorship Grants of up to $500 may be available to eligible groups. Sponsorship grant funds can be used to hire and purchase equipment or to subsidise venue hire. For details and to check eligibility go to our Community Grants page.
Economic and social returns
The Benalla Festival offers a host of economic and social benefits to the community. Those who participate help showcase the many facilities and attractions that make Benalla Rural City a great place to live and to visit. Well-managed events create opportunities for financial returns to the event facilitator.
As a host of a COVIDSafe event or activity, you are responsible for managing your own activity or event and associated costs. You are responsible for organising the necessary venue and equipment, ticket sales, bookings enquiries, public liability insurance and permits if necessary.
Different types of events are subject to different requirements. For more information visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/public-events
At this initial stage, the Benalla Festival Advisory Committee is only seeking a completed Expression of Interest form. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests for inclusions. Priority will be given to those proposals that best fit the Benalla Festival program and theme. If successful, we will require you to submit the following:
- a copy of your Public Liability Insurance certificate
- Working with children and police clearance if hosting a children’s activity
- a community event application may be required pending the scope, location and size of event. The Events Department can assist with support and advice.
For further information contact the Council’s Events Coordinator on (03) 5760 2600 to discuss your event proposal.
Complete the Expression of Interest form and submit it for consideration by Monday 25 July 2022.
We will be in touch to discuss your idea with you.