Mark your calendars for the long weekend 8 to 12 June, the 2023 Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival is gearing up to be the best yet with the return of the legendary street parade and the addition of a family fun night and a good old fashioned country street party.
The Henry Lawson Festival is a major event for the town of Grenfell. Located in the Central West of NSW. It is held annually over the Long Weekend in June consisting of four days of celebrating regional arts.
The festival has been running for 65 years and is seen as one of the oldest rural festivals still operating in NSW. Lawson was born on the Grenfell Goldfields in 1867 and the festival was established to commemorate his extensive contribution to the arts during his time.
Lawson’s legendary Australian stories and poetry were acclaimed throughout his life and have continued to be celebrated in the 100 years since he passed. The festival is renowned for introducing Lawson's work to generations of fans and aims to promote aspiring artistic endeavours. The event also showcases the Grenfell region’s heritage and tourist attractions with entertainment for everyone.
The Thursday of the event will include the official opening of the festival and the art exhibition along with the announcement of the 2023 Festival King and Queen.
The 2023 line-up will also include a Family Fun Night on Friday 9th featuring food and wine, family friendly rides and entertainment. The popular street parade will return to the Saturday of the festival along with the addition of an authentic country street party.
Visitors will enjoy market stalls, rides, competition presentations, roving street entertainers, and themed stage entertainment throughout Grenfell’s iconic Main Street. Finish the weekend up by booking a visit to Iandra Castle, attending the Caragabal Camp Oven Cook-off or keep the pace up with the Greenethorpe to Iandra Castle bike ride.
And there are competitions!
Entries are now open for the festival’s Short Story and Verse, Art and Photography Competitions. This year will also see the introduction of the inaugural Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Micro Film Competition. Set to be a red-carpet affair, entrants can submit a short film using a smart phone, digital device or drone.
The theme for entries this year is Faces in the Street after one of the earliest and most celebrated poems of the young Henry Lawson. This theme invites reflections on modern Australian life which could include elements of hardship and despair, courage and fortitude, or compassion and mateship.
