Saturday 11 February
- Banjo Paterson Cup at Epiroc Ladies Day
- Horse race meeting hosted by Racing Orange the week before the Festival, with a feature race to celebrate Banjo Paterson
- Towac Park Racecourse, Canobolas Road, Orange
- Complimentary tickets available at Yeoval Banjo Museum or at Orange360 office
- Gates open at 12pm. No booking needed.
Fri 17 February
- Banjo’s birthday party (17 February 1864)
- Banjo Paterson Park, Ophir Road, Orange
- 6 pm to 8 pm
- BBQ food on sale or BYO picnic and drinks.
- BYO chairs.
- Entertainment and opportunity for walk-up performances
- Entry: free.
- Contact: Elizabeth Griffin 0437 868 595
Sat 18 February
- Poetry Brawl
- 6.30 to 10.00 pm
- Hosted by the Molong Advancement Group and the Freemasons Hotel
- Contestants must perform a 1-minute original poem to include a secret phrase “been there before”
- Good prizes
- Judge is Robyn Sykes, award winning bush poet
- Family Courtyard, Freemasons Hotel, Bank Street, Molong
- Under 18: 7 pm to 8 pm; Open: 9 pm to 10 pm.
- Under 18: Free; Open: entry $5. Guests free but booking essential
- Book via Trybooking.com from 9 January 2023
- Purchase dinner at the pub.
- Contact: Jude Taylor 0405 021 265
Sun 19 February
- Poets’ brunch and entertainment at Yeoval
- Relax in the shade of the trees for real country hospitality.
- Free entertainment and open mic for walk-up poetry and music.
- Visit the Banjo Paterson – More than a Poet Museum
- 43 Forbes Street, Yeoval.
- 10 am start, no booking needed
- Donation appreciated.
- Contact: Alf Cantrell 0427 208 913
- Afternoon tea at Boree Nyrang
- From 4 pm
- The property where Banjo’s grandparents used to live and where his mother grew up
- Hosted by the Molong Historical Society
- Booking details to come
- Tour the ‘new’ house (1903), visit historic site, Billy tea and damper for afternoon tea.
- Entertainment by Australian performance bush poetry champion, Greg North
- Dress up in your favourite Banjo character.
- Contact: Elizabeth Griffin 0437 868 595
Mon 20 February and Tuesday 21 February
- In-School bush poetry performances
- Presented by Bush Poets Melanie Hall and Susie Carcary (Mel and Susie)
- Free to schools
- Book in with Debbie Smith 0488 107 123
Monday 20 February
- The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson Show and book launch
- Three-times Australian champion bush poet, Gregory North, presents the history and selected verse of Orange’s most famous son – Banjo Paterson. The show is accompanied by visuals and his companion book will be launched on the night. Great entertainment.
- at the Orange Senior Citizens and Pensioners Centre
- 77 Kite Street, Orange (access and parking in the Woolworths’ Car Park)
- 7.30 to 9 pm
- $5 entry
- Contact Greg North 0425 210 083
- See www.gregorynorth.com.au for more about Greg.
Tue 21 February
- Lunch at the Ironbark Hotel, Stuart Town
- Stuart Town was originally named Ironbark – of “The Man from Ironbark fame”
- Enjoy lunch and poetry at the historic Ironbark Hotel
- Catch the XPT train from Orange at 12 noon and return to Orange at 4 pm
- 12.30 pm to 3 pm
- Bookings and train information: call Renee Wykes 0458 157 650
Wed 22 February
- Breakfast and poetry
- Performances by school students and walk-up poets
- Drop in on your way to work or after your morning walk
- Civic Centre South Court, 147 Byng Street, Orange
- 8 am to 10 am
- No booking needed
- Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
- Schools contact Debbie Smith 0488 107 123
- Memory Workshop
- Improve your memory for bush poetry, prose, song lyrics and plays with Melanie Hall and Susie Carcary
- Come along to a workshop designed to give you tips and tricks to help improve your memorisation. Mel and Susie have identified a range of mnemonics and techniques to assist you in your efforts to expand your repertoire and memorise your original work. Come along for a fun session, bring pen and paper if you wish
- Duntryleague Guesthouse, Woodward Street, Orange
- 11 am to 1 pm
- $10 per person
- Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117 to book in
- Blackened Billy Verse Competition presentation
- Announcement and presentation of the winners of the 33rd Annual verse writing competition
- Combination in-room and Zoom attendance to accommodate entrants and enthusiasts from across Australia (Zoom link to come)
- at the historic Duntryleague Guest House, Woodward Street, Orange
- 3 pm
- Information and entry form available at https://blackenedbillyversecompetition.com . Entries close 30 November 2022.
- Contact: lux@blackenedbillyversecompetition.com
- Wrath of Grapes
- A fun night of walk-up poetry competition
- Entertainment, a meal and local wine in the barrel shed
- at Heifer Station Wines, 1034 The Escort Way, Orange
- 5.30 – 9.30 pm.
- $35.74 per person
- Bookings https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-wrath-of-grapes-a-banjo-patterson-festival-event-tickets-439364469957
Thu 23 February
- National Bush Poetry Performance Championship
- Enjoy the best bush poets from across Australia perform in 4 categories of original (humorous and serious) and borrowed (traditional and modern) poems
- This highly entertaining national competition is brought to Orange by the Australian Bush Poets Association and the Rotary Club of Orange.
- Presentation of winners on Friday at 4 pm
- To enter go to abpa.org.au/events.html
- Judges are Melanie Hall, Susie Carcary and Greg North
- at the Orange Ex Services Club, 231-243 Anson Street, Orange
- 10 am to 5 pm
- Audience entry by donation
- Contact: Tim Sheed (ABPA) 0438 861 271 or Len Banks (Rotary) 0428 459 117
Fri 24 February
- National Bush Poetry Performance Championship
- Continued from Thur 23 February.
- 10 am to 5 pm
- Yarn Spinning Competition
- The culmination of weekly yarn telling evenings during January and February
- Relive the days of telling yarns around a campfire or at the bar.
- 5-minute time limit on yarns and family friendly language.
- Prizes donated by the Metropolitan Hotel.
- Pub meals available to purchase.
- Metropolitan Hotel, Corner of Anson and Byng Streets, Orange
- 7 pm
- Contact Joanne Murphy at the Metro 02 6369 1444
Sat 25 February
- Youth poetry competition
- Individual performance of original poetry by school students
- Beaut family entertainment
- Competition details and entry form available on-line at rotarycluboforange.org.au Competition entry free
- at the Orange Regional Conservatorium of music, 73A Hill Street, Orange
- 9 am to 12.30 pm
- Audience entry by donation
- Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
- Open poetry competition
- Individual performance of original poetry by adults not entering the National Championships
- Beaut family entertainment
- Competition details and entry form available on-line at rotarycluboforange.org.au Competition entry $10
- at the Orange Regional Conservatorium of music, 73A Hill Street, Orange
- 1 pm to 5 pm
- Audience entry by donation
- Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
- Entertainment and walk-up poetry competition at the Cargo Inn
- Fun and laughter with bush poetry performances
- Come along with your own poem or a classic (4 Min Max.) to perform in the inaugural Cargo Cup
- Judging by Bush Poets Mel and Susie
- Cash prizes for best performance and best character
- Free entry and the bar and bistro open at 5 pm
- 34-38 Belmore Street, Cargo
- 38 km from Orange on the Cargo/Canowindra Road
- Contact accounts@cargoinn.com.au if you are bringing a poem
- Sponsored by See Saw Wines & MSM Milling
- Presentation of Deidre Penhall Memorial prize for Poetry
- Announcement and presentation of winners of this inaugural poetry writing competition for young women
- Competition details and entry form available on-line at rotarycluboforange.org.au Competition entry $10
- Competition entries close 21 December 2022.
- At the Cargo Inn in conjunction with the entertainment and walk-up poetry competition listed above.
- Contact: Len Banks 0428 459 117
Sun 26 February
- Rotary Community Market
- Craft and produce market
- Entertainment and open mic for poets
- Stallholder bookings at rotarycluboforange.org.au
- at the Orange Civic Centre Northcourt (Cnr. Peisley and March Streets)
- 9 am to 2 pm
- Entry by donation
- Contact: Sue Patterson 0427 588 805
- Strawhouse Sunset Banjo 2023
- Join Meg & Justin of Strawhouse Wines and guest musicians, The Hip Replacements for chilled classics, some Banjo and a twang of banjo as we celebrate the Banjo Paterson Festival in and around the Strawhouse Tasting Room and Deck.
- Ticket includes a welcome glass of wine and the band.
- The Kiss Kitchen team will be dishing up some delectable treats to keep you fueled for the evening.Strawhouse Wines, Boree Lane, Orange
5 pm – 8 pm
- Book with Justin Byrne 0402 498 419