Benalla Festival – Event Guidelines
About the Festival
The Benalla Festival will be celebrated over two weekends from 1 – 9 November 2025.
The Festival celebrates all that is great about our Rural City. Events are a collaboration of community efforts that encompass art, music, dance, history, sport, family attractions, exhibitions and much more.
The Benalla Festival is run by Benalla Rural City Council and overseen by the community-based Benalla Festival Advisory Committee.
The Benalla Festival Advisory Committee is now accepting applications to run events or activities as part of the Benalla Festival. We want to hear from interested businesses, community groups, social groups, sporting groups, schools, and service organisations.
The theme
The 2025 Benalla Festival theme is: Live Local, Love Local
The events
The Festival program will highlight our rural communities with events across our townships during the Festival’s first weekend from Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 November 2025. The second weekend will feature events in Benalla from Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 November 2025.
It is intended that there be a diverse range of community events and activities at various locations throughout the rural city.
Rural events
To highlight our rural communities on the first weekend we are inviting organisations and community groups to be creative and host an event on the first weekend. Financial support may be available for a proposal of a larger scale event with general support offered for smaller scale events through marketing and promotion.
Benalla events
Featured events in Benalla on Saturday 8 November will include an entertainment event at the Lake Benalla Foreshore precinct and A Day in the Gardens Market on Sunday 9 November. Financial support may be available for a proposal of a larger scale event with general support offered for smaller scale events through marketing and promotion.
What will the Benalla Festival provide for your event?
When you hold an event as part of the Benalla Festival, you are part of the major event series on the Benalla Rural City calendar. There are many benefits to facilitating an event as part of the Benalla Festival.
Marketing
We provide marketing, print media, advertising and media opportunities that promote each of the events that comprise the Festival. Event organisers are encouraged to take out their own additional advertising.
Events will be promoted through the Benalla Festival Program which will be distributed throughout Benalla Rural City, the wider region and via the Festival’s website and Socials.
Support
We support organisers to obtain Council permits required to deliver events.
Grant opportunities
Quick Response Grants of up to $750 may be available to eligible groups. Grant funds can be used to hire and purchase equipment or to subsidise venue hire. For details and to check eligibility go to https://www.benalla.vic.gov.au/grants
Economic and social returns
The Benalla Festival offers a host of economic and social benefits to the community. Those who participate help showcase the many facilities and attractions that make Benalla Rural City a great place to live and to visit. Well-managed events create opportunities for financial returns to the event facilitator.
What is my role if I am part of the Benalla Festival?
As a host of an event or activity, you are responsible for managing your own activity or event and associated costs. You are responsible for organising the necessary venue and equipment, ticket sales, bookings enquiries, Public Liability Insurance and permits if necessary.
Once your event is approved and published, if for any reason you are considering the cancellation or postponement of your event you must liaise with the Benalla Festival Advisory Committee in the first instance to discuss alternate options. The Benalla Festival program of events is distributed widely.
How do I get involved?
Complete the Expression of Interest form online by 5pm Monday 28 July 2025.
What do I need to submit?
At this initial stage, the Benalla Festival Advisory Committee is only seeking a completed Expression of Interest form. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests for inclusions. Priority will be given to those proposals that best fit the Benalla Festival program and theme. If successful, we will then require you to submit the following:
- A copy of your Public Liability Insurance certificate
- Working with children and police clearance if hosting a children’s activity
- A community event application may be required pending the scope, location and size of event. The Events Department can assist with support and advice.
More information
For more information contact the Council’s Tourism and Events Officer, Kate Nolan on 03 5760 2649 or via benalla.festival@benalla.vic.gov.au to discuss your event proposal.