The Woodford Folk Festival is held annually over six days and six nights from Dec 27th through to January 1st. More than 2,000 local, national and international, artists, musicians and presenters put on over 438 acts to an audience of an estimated 132,000 people. The festival begins each year with the iconic Opening Ceremony and closes with the spectacular showcase, the Fire Event on New Year’s Day. This year will be the 33rd Woodford Folk Festival and the 24th held at Woodfordia. It is the largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia.
The Woodford festival experience is deep, rich and colourful. It is based on a vision of inclusive and creative community, culture and tradition passed through generations, expressed through story and ceremony. The site, a former barren dairy farm, has been lovingly regenerated with over 120,000 subtropical rain forest trees, orchids, ferns and sedges planted to create habitat for butterflies and wildlife.
Woodfordia is transformed into a village that hosts over 25,000 daily patrons, performers, stallholders, volunteers and organisers. As many as 2,680 volunteers across 162 departments are at the heart of the organisation and contribute to the setup and day-to-day running of the festival. During the event the festival is actually the 67th largest town in Australia.
Each year construction begins in early December and continues up until Christmas Day. Over 450 contractors and volunteers build the village. Many come from around the world to be part of the festival build and then stay for a week after to pull the event down.
The festival build includes:
- Installation of over 20,000 square metres of canvas for 35 venues, 15 bars and over 200 food, craft and merchandise stalls
- Erection of over 5,500 signs
- Installation of over 13ks of fencing
- Placement of over 60 temporary offices and hired amenity blocks
- Filtration of 14 million litres of water
- Cleaning of over 500 toilets and 341 showers
- Distribution of 15ks electrical and communication cabling
- Construction of 25 stages
- Placement of 16,000 chairs
- Installation of 600 lanterns
The team are powered by over 24,000 meals and unlimited goodwill.
The festival programme features concerts, dances, street theatre, writers’ panels, film festival, comedy sessions, acoustic jams, social dialogue and debate, folk medicine, an entire children’s festival, an environmental programme featuring talks, debates and films, art and craft workshops, circus performances and workshops, late night cabarets, parades and special events including the spectacular fire event.
The festival streets are lined with restaurants, cafes, stalls, bars, street theatre and parades. Tree-filled campgrounds, butterfly walks, ponds and wildlife complete the picturesque site. The festival appeals to a diverse audience with all ages and many nationalities attracted each year. It’s a magical experience and one not to be missed.
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We wish all Woodfordians, no matter where you are and how you celebrate, a happy and healthy New Year.
📷 Claudia Baxter
We have informed Bushtimers that we are now aware of positive results from rapid antigen tests have appeared at Woodfordia. Those 5 people have left site.
While we are aware that these tests aren’t always accurate we should presume that there is virus at Bushtime. Our director Bill Hauritz will be addressing the audience at 2:45pm at the Show.
We have been in contact with the Queensland government seeking advice. After talking with our performers we’ve decided to proceed with Bushtime. The show will go on.
We love seeing all the wonderful moments captured by our photography team at Bushtime 2021/22. From early morning yoga to late-night cabaret.
Feeling that Woodfordia FOMO? There are a limited range of tickets still available if you'd like to join us for New Years Eve.
Learn more via the link in our bio
📷 by Lera Zavyalova @leraz_ph9 and Kate Atkinson @kateatkinsonphotos
#thisisqueensland #woodfordia #bushtime #bushtimewoodfordia
Hello Woodfordians, please enjoy these beautiful images of day 1 at Bushtime 2021/22 - with Tenzin Choegyal, Pink Martini Cabaret, Asha Jefferies and Clarke McFarlane, who is helping Woodfordian Kids hunt for the Hungry Blue Noodle.
If relaxing by a beautiful lake, with incredible music just a short walk away and a range of self-paced activities sound like a nice way to spend your holidays - then join us. There are still a limited amount of tickets left. Learn more: https://woodfordia.org/bushtime/
📷 @claudiabaxterphoto
Welcome Woodfordians, Bushtime starts today!
Whether you want to create, explore trails, chill under the shade or dip in Lake Gkula’s cool waters, we welcome you to genuinely connect to the beautiful surroundings of Woodfordia.
It's not too late to join us, we have just a few tickets left - immerse in the wonderful musical programme, dance workshops and yoga, bush walks and talks to celebrate the new year. For those of you already joining us, don't forget to check out our programme of workshops, talks and free events via the link in our bio!
#bushtime #jinibaracountry #greatoutdoors #livemusic #woodfordia #thisisqueensland #holidaydreaming
The finishing touches are going up everywhere on site at Woodfordia. We are so thankful to our build crew who make everything look so special. We can't wait to show you all how lush and green everything is. Bushtime starts tomorrow, (there are still a few tickets if you want to join in) but no matter where and how you are celebrating we wish you all a wonderful holiday season. #bushtime #jinibaracountry #greatoutdoors #livemusic #woodfordia #thisisqueensland #holidaydreaming
Wishing all Woodfordians - and all beings everywhere - happiness, health, peace and contentment.
Need a break? Come to Bushtime. Where else can you camp lake side while enjoying world class music, workshops, talks and food? We are less than 90 mins from Brisbane and about an hour from the Sunshine coast. Come stay with us, and let us take care of your new years plans. Check out the link in our bio.
Tag and share with your friends and family! #bushtime #jinibaracountry #greatoutdoors #livemusic #woodfordia #thisisqueensland #holidaydreaming
Just 5 days to go before we are celebrating the end of the year with you all at Bushtime. We can't wait to gather on Jinibara country with you, our volunteers, stallies, artists and presenters for all of the magic of a Summer at Woodfordia. There are still a few tickets available, so grab your friends and family and join us via the link in the bio.
#bushtime #jinibaracountry #greatoutdoors #livemusic #woodfordia #thisisqueensland #holidaydreaming
It's only one week until we'll all be choosing our campsites, taking our first splashes into Lake Gkula and settling in for a week of music and joy at Bushtime on Jinibara Country. See you there. #bushtime #jinibaracountry #greatoutdoors #livemusic #woodfordia #thisisqueensland #holidaydreaming Image by Gavin Ryan
We had someone wondering recently if Bushtime would have a good amount of wonderful music - we think so! Over the week you can enjoy: @restlessmusic1976 and Roger Illot, @crysscoleman , @thebarleyshakes , The Barleyshakes Duo, @the.stowaways.music , @whoisashajefferies , @thedawnlight_music , @electricfields_music , Greg Sheehan, @tibet_effect , @mattyglive , @sarahkoppenmusic , Good Tunes Band, Andrew Veivers, Eumundi School of Rock Teen Superbands feat. @katie_noonan_music , @tokotontaiko , @@lovegrovemusic , @dayofembers , @north.and.elsewhere , @dangeroussong , @thesteelesyndicate , Kim Kirkman, @jackiemarshallmakesmusic , Bunya Irish Ceili Band, @katemillerheidke , @buttercatsmusic , @zoequinnmusic , Kim Kirkman, @emily_maguire_music , @womenindocs , DJ Katch, @dub_zoo, Tyrone (Alone), @obscureorchestra , @busbymarou PLUS dance, yoga, visual arts workshops... and perhaps most importantly for Bushtime... camp hangs.
#bushtime #jinibaracountry #greatoutdoors #livemusic #woodfordia #thisisqueensland #holidaydreaming Image by Jen Quodling
