Special Events
POP-UP PLAY
What's your favourite childhood game? Hopscotch? Marbles? Jacks or skipping? Maybe playing Cat's Cradle with a loop of string? Come with your family and hop, skip and jump while you play these games and more at NEWSTEAD LIVE!
POP-UP PLAY is about traditional games played by children around the world. Kids, parents and grandparents have all played these games at school or at home with friends. So come and spin a hula-hoop, jump a skipping rope, toss some quoits and try out your yo-yo skills. See how you can make your own playthings from household recyclables.
Come and join in the fun while you play the games of childhood.
Fun for all, big and small!
Cost: Free to play, free to share.
POP-UP PLAY is brought to you by folklorist Judy McKinty.
SAT SUN 9:00AM-7PM
The Makers Gallery
at The Arts Hub
Located next to the Red Shed, the Arts Hub is the place to meet the makers of hand-crafted instruments, see a violin being made, enjoy Made & Played mini-concerts featuring Festival performers on selected hand-made instruments (check program for times), and play Jon Madin’s wacky instruments. Catch the shuttle bus or walk over. Coffee cart & afternoon bar.
Open SAT & SUN 10am-5pm, MON 9am-12noon.
Jon Madin’s Wacky Instruments
“Jon’s wacky instruments are considered legendary! Everyone gets to play lots of them. We make an instant fun orchestra. Instructions are simple. Instruments include; Echocellos - keyed cellos you play with a real violin bow! Dingboxes - you jump on boxes to make a tune (or silly noises) Musical exercise bikes - pedal and play tunes! Farty Foot pumpers - horrible sounds and exploding gloves! Horse trough jumping bassoons - jump vigorously to operate trombone style bassoons Shaker rings - you shake then throw them to a partner! Plus huge marimbas and 3 mini drum kits! All join in! (Look on YouTube for ‘What on earth is a Farty Foot Pumper?’ (An ABC News item)”
THE ARTS HUB Sat & Sun 10-12 & 2-4
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
A wedding tradition without the wedding, although a joyous marriage of sorts.
Hosted by Ian Bland. Bruce Watson, Jane Cameron, and Teresa Dixon come together in the round to perform songs that represent their interpretation of the theme – the old, the new, the borrowed and the blue.
Community Centre SUN 10-11:15AM​​
Storytelling
The Truth, Mainly the Truth, or Anything but the Truth
Since we crawled out of the primordial slime, storytelling has been an integral part of human evolution.
It is how we communicate, bond, relate, entertain, educate, chronicle and make sense of our world and our place in it.
It preserves the past, records the present and imagines the future.
Join us for a relaxed session, to share your stories, fact or fiction, yarns or poetry, or sit back and enjoy short stories and tall tales.
Hosted by Ian Bland
Enviroshop SAT 4:00pm, SUN 4:00pm
The Courtyard
This year we are excited to showcase Newstead Live’s youth stage for school aged performers. This stage is to encourage young musicians to get out and show their talents, from solo artists to teen rock bands. The venue is a lovely courtyard setting under a cool peppercorn tree. This will run on the Saturday only Come along and encourage up and coming talented musicians. Fun for all the family!
SAT 11:00AM-6:00PM
​
POOL PARTY!
Saturday afternoon is the Pool Party. The Zamponistas kick things off with their pan pipes and percussion, followed by Whiskey Dram, Mal Webb & Kylie Morrigan, and The Duck Downpickers. Entry fee is $5 with all funds raised going to the pool events committee. This is not included in the festival ticket price as the pool is a separately managed venue. The festival provides the artists to the pool to make this fun event a community fundraiser. So come along and enjoy the lush grass and dip your toes in the water.
We thank you for your contribution and support of our local community.
SAT: 2:00PM-5:00PM
Entry $5
DANCE PARTY & TRAD DISCO
Saturday evening is the Dance Party. This year dance along to The Gordon Gypsies, Double Dole Stringband and Belly Savalas, then dance some more with Ado Barker, our famous Trad Disco DJ. Get your costume from the RTC Op Shop and be prepared for a bit of mania.
Community Centre SAT: 7:45PM-MIDNIGHT