'An arts Festival with a metal edge' Ironfest celebrates working and playing with metal.
Held annually in Lithgow on the closest weekend to Anzac Day, Ironfest brings together artists, designer/makers, performers of all kinds, musicians, historical re-enactors and machine enthusiasts & hobbyists from all over the Lithgow/Blue Mountains region, Australia, and the world.
Art making demonstrations & workshops, have in the past included, blacksmithing, wire working, mask making, belly dancing & musical instrument making, and have become regular and popular features of Ironfest.
Some workshops are available all year round. For more details visit the Ironfest Workshoppes. Even if the workshop you are interested in, is not listed, register your name & tell us what workshop you would like to do, because Ironfest will endeavour to provide workshops on demand.
Historical displays by local museums, as well as other institutions, such as the Sydney Powerhouse Museum, present stories of our past through exhibition and presentations by experts in their fields of study.
Historical re-enactments, including medieval re-enactments by Full Tilt (The St George's Day Championship) & colonial re-enactments by the Australian Napoleonic Association (The Battle of Lithgow) have become a popular feature of Ironfest.
Ironfest also presents an eclectic musical program including classical music, jazz, rock, country & western, bush, medieval and modern experimental; often presenting acts rarely seen in regional Australia.
Ironfest endeavours to present the unusual and the unexpected in music, performance and art.
Ironfest has been part of the Australian Innovation Festival, celebrating the history of innovation.
Ironfest aims to challenge, inspire and educate (through entertainment).
Ironfest is life changing.
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What
a wonderful event! We'd love to come back next year, bringing
lots of friends with us! The atmosphere was fantastic, and I know
it will continue to grow and be even more successful. People I
know who came down for the day are still raving about it - particularly
those who took kids along, as they said it was so nice to go to
a "show" and not have all the silly rides and smelly
food, but have artists and "educational" events.
Congratulations!
Cathie (Zhagareet)
Ironfest Participant
(Ironfest was)
very well presented, informative, educational, inspiring, relaxed
atmosphere, friendly and helpful people.
Tim
Parr
Ironfest Visitor
If
you're coming to Lithgow in April - May this year, you may like
to visit this year's Ironfest.
IRONFEST 2008 - Lithgow showground, APRIL 25, 26, 27.
A great annual 3 day event comprising all that the iron-age has
to offer & more.
Arts, crafts, displays, Archery, drama, kids performing circus
acts, historical Re-enactments in full quality costume both on
horseback & on foot.
The Pinacle event? Well, you simply cannot miss the LIVE Jousting
displays by the Australasian champions - YES, jousting is an actual
sport.
A real crowd pleaser - everyone in the audience went NUTS! It's
like you're in Hollywood witnessing a movie in production - full
costume & IN character.
Very entertaining hosts.
Decidedly Celtic & bohemiem with an Australian flavour - It's
very different from anything you've ever seen.
(Ya gotta luv the giant hopping Kangaroos - too cool!)
Extremely well put together & professionally organised.
A GREAT ATMOSPHERE & A GREAT DAY OUT!
My relatives are coming from Tasmania - just to see this show!
Checkout this years website pix to get some Idea of the atmosphere
- but nothing like being there.
I hope that you can make it to this Gala event!
Wassail!
Deb
Fearne & Mick Fiene.
(Longterm
Ironfest Visitors)
We
came last year. It was raining, but it was wonderful. It is now
our> family tradition to go to Ironfest each year.... The smithies
were wonderful and so helpful. We have samples and coins. We loved
the re-enactments, the dress, the music. Even the washingline
lady! I don't think the rain matters when there is much to see,
and there is at least a little shelter. You've all done such a
wonderful job, and we all wish you the very best for future Ironfests.
Helen.
Collector,
NSW
| | © Ironfest 2001 - 2008 |
