Bathurst Winter Festival

An initiative of Bathurst Regional Council, the Bathurst Winter Festival came to life in 2015, as part of celebrations marking the bicentennary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's proclamation of Bathurst as a town. The festival continues to be owned, managed, operated and promoted by Bathurst Regional Council.

The businesses and residents of Bathurst embrace the festival, adding activities to the program of events, decorating their shop fronts and homes and creating a colourful carnival of welcome that extends across the festival's sixteen days.

Stunning illuminations have been a part of the festival from the very beginning, telling history, lighting up imaginings and bringing community together to acknowledge and celebrate all aspects of the Bathurst Region - people, place, heritage, culture, past, present and future.

Each year we share a theme for the festival that shapes the decorations, illuminations and activities.

Through the theme People and Place we will celebrate everything that makes our community and our region special: individuals and groups, diversity, four seasons, heritage, activities, culture, entertainment, resilience and more. Familiar faces and quiet places. Keep an eye out for the unique interpretations of this year's theme as you wander along the Illumination Light Walk and check out the Brighten Up Bathurst locations around town.