2023 Festival Program
Sculpture Trail Tours
TIMES: 3pm & 4:30pm | VENUE: Pick up at Blackall Cultural Centre
Take the opportunity to explore the artistic landscape of our town in the comfort of a guided drive-by Sculpture Tour. Option to include wine/drink and nibbles at The Lodge on Hawthorn at end of tour.
Official Opening 2025 Better in Blackall Festival
TIME: 6pm | VENUE: BLACKALL CULTURAL CENTRE
Join us as we kick off the 2025 Better in Blackall Festival with fine dining and entertainment! Enjoy an exquisite meal prepared by celebrity chef Matt Golinski, while taking in a live cabaret show!
Dog Walk on Sunrise with Bee
TIMES: 6am Friday and Saturday | VENUE: Barcoo Riverside Walking Track
Bring your pooch (or we can provide one!) and enjoy a morning walk with your furry friends.
Ram Park Pioneer Exhibition
TIME: From 10am | VENUE: Ram Park
Immerse yourself in history with: demonstrations & displays and more with local legend Stewie.
Bubbles & Brushes with Lindy Hardie
TIME: Friday 10am, Saturday 10am & 2pm | VENUE: Bushmans Gallery
Join local artists Lindy Hardie for our festival Bubbles & brushes! Unleash you inner artists and have some fun with your new festival friends.
Matt Golinski Masterclass
TIME: 10am | VENUE: LIVING ARTS CENTRE
Celebrity chef Matt Golinski is set to serve up a sensational experience making the most of local ingredients at this masterclass.
Fastplant Skateboarding Workshops with T and Mik
TIMES: Friday & Saturday | VENUE: BLACKALL SKATE PARK
Welcome Fastplant Skateboarding to Blackall. Hosting workshops for ages 4 and over.
KIDS ACTIVITES & WORKSHOPS
Friday & Saturday! Friendship bracelet making and face painting.
Barcoo River Rides & Side Show Alley
TIMES: Friday 4pm - 10pm, Saturday 10am - 10pm | VENUE: Short Street
Sideshow alley and a variety of rides. Great value passes available for unlimited rides.
Crime & Cocktails
TIME: 5:30pm | VENUE: Food & Beverage Pavilion, Short St
Live true crime interview with cocktails available.
Go Seek - Musical Adventure Show!
TIMES: Friday 6pm | Saturday 12pm & 5:30pm
VENUE: Short St Main Stage
A fantastic explosion of colour, movement and funky music, this exciting, playful show is plenty of FUN!
Better in Blackall Festival Markets
TIME: All Day from 9am | VENUE: SHORT STREET
Market stalls and food vendors.
STREET PARTY
TIME: ALL DAY | VENUE: Short Street
Short Street will be jam packed throughout the day, with markets, rides, shows, workshops, billy carts, games and heaps more! Then, when the sun goes down, get ready to boogie on the Barcoo with entertainment on the main stage all night.
Historical Display - ‘The Bad Boys of Blackall’
TIME: 9am-4pm | VENUE: Sheep Street
Enjoy taking a trip back in time with a pop-up historical display from the Blackall Historical Society.
Fashion Styling Masterclasses with Brooke Falvey
TIMES: Saturday 2pm | VENUE: Memorial Hall
Dopamine dressing at its best! Join award winning stylist Brooke Falvey as she shares the skills she’s honed over years in the fashion industry as a fashion blogger, model, editor and stylist to help you feel confident in your personal style.
Billy Cart Races
TIME: Races Start 3pm sharp | VENUE: Short Street
Proudly supported by the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, the billy carts are a must-do fun for young and old! Get ready for some fast and furious family fun.
Jackie Howe Challenge FINALS
TIME: 4pm | VENUE: Short Street
Get your teams together and take on the legendary Jackie Howe challenge.
Matt Golinski’s Long Lamb Lunch on ‘Sheep Street’
TIME: 12pm | VENUE: SHEEP STREET, WHITE TENT
Long Lamb Lunch with special guest Matt Golinski.
Ben’s Chicken Races
TIME: 11am and 2:30pm | VENUE: SHEEP STREET - STREET PARTY
Come have a flutter on the fastest chickens in the West!
Shank Bros & Barcoo Butchery Paddock to Plate Masterclass
TIME: 11am | VENUE: SHEEP STREET - BBQ COOK-OFF TENT
Join the Shank Brothers and Barcoo Butchery for a masterclass.
Breakdancing Workshops
TIME: 9am | VENUE: BLACKALL SKATE PARK
Join Geed UP from Eat Street Northshore, for a fun workshop for kids to learn some breakdancing skills.
Blackall’s Famous BBQ Cook-Off
TIME: 9am Low & Slow, 1:30pm Hot & Fast | VENUE: SHEEP STREET
The Shank Brothers return to Blackall for the famous Blackall BBQ Cook-off. Step up to the challenge: Low & Slow, or Fast & Hot. Great prizes and 70th Anniversary Weber Auction!
Poet’s Breakfast with Mel and Susie from ‘Hidden Gem’ & Dan and Ed - The Trade Mutt Guys
TIME: 7:30am | VENUE: MEMORIAL HALL
Join bush poetry legends Susie & Mel, and the Trade Mutt Guys for a delicious breakfast and lighthearted entertainment.
Culture on Eat Street
TIME: From 4:30pm - 11:30pm | VENUE: MEMORIAL PARK
Kick off the weekend with friends and family at Park Eats - food and fun at Memorial Park on Friday evening.
In conjunction with the Art & Photography Exhibition, just outside you can sit back, relax, and enjoy an evening under the stars.
Art Exhibition Opening
TIME: 6pm | VENUE: BLACKALL CULTURAL CENTRE
Join us for the opening night of the annual Blackall Art and Photography Exhibition.
Hair & Make-up Styling Masterclasses
TIMES: Sat 10am | VENUE: Memorial Hall
Local hair and make-up artists Lauren and Britney are set to share their expertise to help boost your style game for everyday or that special occasion.
Photography Workshops with Chantel Renae
TIMES: Fri, Sat & Sun 8am and 1:30pm | VENUE: Various
Join rural photography coach Chantel Renae for one of her workshops aimed beginners to more advanced. Chantel specialises in guiding rural photographers at all stages of their photography journey.
Historical Woolscour Tour
TIMES: Open daily from 10am | See Woolscour website
Visit the Blackall Woolscour and enjoy a tour of this historical site.
Milynda Rogers Wire Workshops
TIMES: 9am (sheep), 2pm (roly poly) | VENUE: Men’s Shed (Thur & Sun), Banks Park (Fri, Sun), Sheep Street (Sat)
Our local Central West Queensland artist Scrapmetal Shiela Milynda Rogers will be hosting two workshops on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (8 workshops total).
Get in quick, these sell out fast.
Beef & Bangers Blackall Saleyards Experience
TIMES: 8am, 9am, 10am | VENUE: BLACKALL SALEYARDS
Get up close and personal with the story of our local beef industry in a guided tour of this world-class facility where local graziers and stock agents come together to trade.