Multi-platinum selling Australian musicians will join local indigenous groups in a celebration of the arts, environment and cultural experiences of Bundaberg Region’s in the 2023 Milbi Festival, from Friday 27 October to Sunday 5 November.
The annual 10-day festival marks the beginning of turtle season on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, when the Bundaberg’s world-renowned coastline and islands come alive with nesting and hatchling turtles.
The festival kicks off with ARIA Award nominated artist Christine Anu headlining the free oceanfront Milbi Festival launch event on Friday 27 October looking over the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Closing out the Festival is Pete Murray, who will bring the serene banks of the Burnett River to life with the acoustic beats of one of Australia’s most loved singer songwriters as he takes to the stage for Sunset Sounds. In between, the program will be filled with a broad variety of events across the region to delight the entire family, including breakfasts with the animals, cultural immersion tours, rockpool rambles, reef days out and more, that will showcase the talent and natural beauty to be found in the Eco Certified Bundaberg Region.
On Saturday 28 October indulge in the tastes of rich native flavours during an elegant Twilight Table dining experience set among the lush surrounds of the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.
An arts takeover of the Bundaberg CBD will see a range of immersive activities from weaving in the park, artist talks in the gallery, to taking in a diverse range of talents from five of the region’s young artists.
Bundaberg Regional Council Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said the 2023 Milbi Festival program would see the event continue to grow.
“We are so thrilled to be launching such a special range of events that really showcases what makes our region such a special place to be and shares it with the rest of the country,” Cr Learmonth said.
“The 10 day festival is a true immersion in the three pillars on which this event is founded – arts, culture and environment. In addition to these festival highlights, which are led by Bundaberg Regional Council, there are a raft of tours, activities and experiences offered by local businesses and groups in this year’s program.”
Running alongside the program’s public activities is the Welcome Home Elders program, an initiative curated by Bundaberg Regional Council in partnership with the Port Curtis Coral Coast Trust, Bunya Mountains Murri Rangers and Gidarjil Development Corporation Land and Sea Rangers, acknowledging the impact of the Aboriginal Protection Act (1897). Earlier this year, the program was recognised as Highly Commended at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards 2023.
See the full 2023 Milbi Festival program at milbifestival.com.au.
