Welcome to our list of arts and cultural events happening in the NSW Central West gathered from artists, event producers, great local venues and groups across the region. Use the contact or ticketing details listed with each event.

It’s free to submit your local events.

For maps and details of museums, galleries, artist studios, historic sites, Aboriginal experiences and sites, craft shops, handmade retail outlets or public art go to the Culture Maps Central NSW menu.

Fish River Festival

O'Connell O'Connell

We are proud to host yet another afternoon of live music in O'Connell. "Music @ The Mud" will be held on Saturday 3rd of June from 2pm - 7pm at Clancy's Mud Hut (3540 Beaconsfield Road). We have a host of outstanding established and emerging artists, and we can't wait to meet with you all again around a firepit for an afternoon of excellent entertainment. Stay tuned for more info!

Orange Winter Jazz Festival 2023

Orange Orange, NSW, Australia

Get set for a weekend of great music and fine wine in the picturesque winter wonderland of Orange. This beautiful and historic township plays host to the best of the Central West’s music scene, alongside Australia’s most electrifying jazz artists across the June long weekend 2023.
Meander between music venues, discover historic sites, boutique food and brews or explore the wine trails of the region and quaint surrounding villages in this three-day festival.
Just four hours drive from Sydney, three hours from Canberra, and five hours from Newcastle, the Orange Winter Jazz Festival is the perfect weekend escape.

The Henry Lawson Festival of Arts

Grenfell Grenfell, NSW, Australia

To commemorate his contribution to the arts, the Festival promotes and recognises aspiring Australians in their artistic endeavours in Grenfell, NSW.

Frost and Fire

Forbes Showgrounds Forbes, NSW, Australia

This year’s live music is a mix of local and regional support acts with Belinda Day from Grenfell kicking off the evening, Forbes locals Cler, Em & Jo back by popular demand, and indie-pop’s brightest newcomer Birdee 王煒, originally from Parkes, now making waves internationally.
And our incredible headline act, Aussie pop sensation Sneaky Sound System will be taking the stage at the end of the night with all your favourite songs!
There will also be plenty of fiery action featuring Sydney Fire Dancers along with the iconic lighting of our grand effigy. 

$15 – $18

Burning of the Clocks Lantern Festival

Lithgow Valley Colliery and Pottery Site Lithgow, NSW, Australia

Burning the Clocks, a fire and lantern festival , created by Same Sky has been a Brighton tradition for decades.
The festival will see lantern making workshops followed by a community lantern parade along Silcock St , a fantastic fire show during which a fire sculpture will be lit, live music plays as participants pass their lanterns through the fire to let go of all that no longer serves them.

Newbridge Winter Solstice Festival

Newbridge Showground Newbridge, NSW, Australia

Saturday June 24 12pm - late. Bonfire at 5pm Follow for more details Take a look below! An action packed afternoon and evening of fun frivolity, music, dance and drama starting midday through to 7pm Contact: NewbridgeProgAssoc@outlook.com

Orange Winter Fire Festival

Orange Orange, NSW, Australia

Produce goes to ground and hearty vegetables fill your bowls, meats crisp and crackle over fire pits, as you sip red wine around bonfires, sharing stories and laughter with friends and strangers under starry crystal clear skies during the annual Winter Fire Festival.
Based on the Australian ‘cracker night’ bonfire tradition the Winter Fire Festival celebrates the country lifestyle.

Mudgee Readers’ Festival

The Book Nest, Mudgee 90 Church St, Mudgee, NSW

Mark it in the calendar, call your friends, and clear your reading lists — the Mudgee Readers’ Festival is back with a bang in 2023.

Grazing Down the Lachlan

Forbes Forbes, NSW, Australia

Grazing Down the Lachlan returns to Forbes NSW. This multi-award winning foodie adventure is set alongside the picturesque Lachlan River and celebrates produce native to the Central West NSW region, prepared by local restaurateurs and caterers. ‘Grazers’ are free to wander along the designated corridor of the nine-mile reserve between six stations offering delicious food with a matched beverage. What makes this dining experience truly unique is the underlying commitment to delivering a no-waste, environmentally responsible event...

Sculptures in the Garden

Rosby Wines, Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Mudgee 122 Strikes Ln, Eurunderee, NSW, Australia

Sculptures in the Garden is an exciting event that combines garden design, large scale Australian sculpture and traditional art mediums in beautiful rural surroundings within a private garden and vineyard in Mudgee.

$5

Trundle ABBA Festival

Trundle Trundle, NSW, Australia

Hey Dancing Queens - it's time to get ready to jive and have the time of your life!
Yes, ABBA-mania is set to return to Trundle!

Spring into Art at Newbridge (save the date)

Newbridge Showground Newbridge, NSW, Australia

Save the date - Spring into Art at Newbridge is back for it's second year. Head along for a weekend of arts, crafts and community in Newbridge village.

 

The What’s On calendar covers arts and heritage events happening across the NSW Central West in the local government areas of Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Region, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.

Event listings are sourced or supplied from local venues and arts organisations. Many events listed here have been originally shared by the organisers on social media. Whilst all care is taken – and accuracy is our priority – we can take no responsibility for date changes or the content of contributed information. Contact the event organisers listed for more details or to book tickets.

The best way to include your event is to use our SUBMIT HERE form (under the What’s On menu at the top of each page). These listings will be manually approved by the Arts OutWest team before publication.  Please allow a couple of days for listings to be published. If you have submitted an event and want to make changes just email us at artsoutwest@csu.edu.au

Featured events‘ are those submitted directly online by presenters.

Event promotors are asked to only include their own original images / images that they have permission to use / copyright free stock images. For more information see our fact sheet on Using Images For Promoting Events (if you can’t see this link look under ‘Opportunities’ then ‘Resources’).