Dubbo Dream Festival

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Fri 01 Sep 2023 - Sat 30 Sep 2023

A month-long celebration of creativity and culture, the Dubbo Dream Festival will ignite your imagination with a multitude of multi-sensory events that include everything from listening to music to watching harness racing and finding your next boat.

The explosion of activity is thanks to Dubbo Regional Council and a group of passionate and talented volunteers who had an idea and a dream to connect communities through the arts. From humble beginnings, and now in its 10th year, it’s going strong as it brings crowd favourites as well as new events in a jam-packed program.


The flagship event of the festival is the spectacular dream lantern parade that travels from Talbragar St. into the picturesque Victoria Park. Incorporating a laser and lights show, music and markets, great food and beverages (with a bar area for over 18’s), and activities that include carnival rides, jumping for joy in Bounce Central, aiming for prizes in Sideshow Alley, hopping on a bucking bull, a penalty shoot-out and axe throwing, and you've got an afternoon and evening you won’t want to miss. There's over 30 performances and interests (look out for the circus theatrics) with something for everyone.

The many events of this festival take place at a number of venues on various dates throughout September and, when it comes to music and theatre, you’re spoilt for choice. You’ve got Zoocoustics with country music star Andy Penkow headlining a program of talent at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Marcia Hines ‘Still Shining’ show at Dubbo Regional Theatre, Matilda the Musical at St Johns Primary School, Pub Rock at Devil’s Hollow Brewery, a silent disco at Church St rotunda, Elvis ‘An American Trilogy' at Dubbo RSL Club, a performance of Sleeping Beauty by the Royal Czech Ballet at the Regional Theatre, and a whole lot more.


Lighting up the town further is the Glow Hard Fun Run, an adventure in Jubilee Oval where you can illuminate the night with glowing attire as you run, jog or walk at your leisure. Art-wise, there’s a story-telling dreamy shop front light projection called Bio Logic from a team whose portfolio includes the Vivid Sydney festival. You can find it at the Art Club.

For car enthusiasts, the Motorfest at Dubbo Showground will please with demonstrations from industry traders, a swap and sell, and loads of opportunities to network and share knowledge/expertise in regard to the maintenance and restoration of unique motor vehicles and bikes. Live entertainment, market stalls, an art exhibition and a bar service round out this event.


There’s also Classic Cars & Coffee for admirers and owners of special interest cars, hot rods, classics, custom cars and bikes, restored vehicles, vintage vehicles, muscle cars and street machines. You can find them on display in Victoria Park, along with a mobile cafe supplying coffee, donuts and a range of hot food.

Many will also enjoy the Caravan, Camping, 4WD, Fish & Boat Show when it pops up at the Showground. With over 100 exhibitors, it provides the western region the opportunity to see and compare a range of products that they would normally have to travel some distance to see. Being a family event, there’s also entertainment for the young and the young at heart.

Being in the country, it would be amiss if there weren’t any four-legged friends captivating audiences. Not to worry here as there’s a couple of horse shows, from harness racing under a ribbon of lights at night to a performance horse show with various breeds and events including showmanship, hacking, reining, hunter under saddle and more. Both of these events take place at the Showground on various dates.


Plenty more is in store with the likes of the Writers’ Festival (where you can develop the craft of writing or promote your work at the Western Plains Cultural Centre), a Ballet Studio Party (with showstopping routines from performance groups at the Regional Theatre) and a Cross Cultural Carnivale (with a program that promotes understanding through celebration of various cultures at the Showground).

Some events are free, whilst others are ticketed. Please visit the website for all the dates/times, venue locations, etc.

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