Just a mere 90 minute drive east of Perth City, you’ll find yourself in the country town of York – a historic locale surrounded by luscious canola fields and vibrant wildflowers in the Avon Valley. Come springtime, the township will be host to the annual York Festival; a celebration of arts and culture from 24 September to 9 October 2022.
Every day across the two week span, The York Festival will exhibit a line-up of arts and crafts, theatre, dance, storytelling, family workshops and nature activities, as well as musical performances from local and interstate artists.
To name a few festival highlights, you can find entertainment from: Bogan Shakespeare, Dead Letter Club, contemporary dance sensation Julia, Bookclub with Ros Thomas, Circus By The River, iconic photo walks, and plenty of free activities to get into as well. Not to mention an entire weekend dedicated to a multitude of jazz shows, featuring 12 acts and over 50 artists hand-picked by Perth International Jazz Festival’s Artistic Director, Dr Mace Francis.
The opening night is set to be an absolutely epic evening with Two Mountains Dreaming – an event that will take place by the Avon River that shares the Noongar story of the surrounding land, with a light installation that will pierce York’s star-studded sky.
The 2022 York Festival will see the richest program of Ballardong Noongar cultural activities ever presented. Ballardong Noongar Program Associate and Cultural Advisor, Dr Marion Kickett says, “I am also proud to say there will be more Aboriginal cultural activities and workshops in 2022. For the first time, there will be Aboriginal cultural tours, designed to give participants an insight into the history of York through the eyes of the Ballardong.”
While The York Festival Artistic Director, Will Yeoman states, “It’s also a celebration of York itself: its history, its culture, its country and its community.”
Mark it in your calendar and experience all that the spectacular York Festival has to offer this spring.