Now in its 33rd year, the Armidale Autumn Festival is on again on 4-5 April, promising a bumper lineup filled with many old favourites and new treats to celebrate Armidale and Autumn.
From humble beginnings as a celebration of the region’s horse racing, the Armidale Autumn Festival has now become a celebration of the turning of the seasons and the diverse community that calls Armidale and its surrounding suburbs home.
The festival will kick off on Friday, April 4, with a special new event for 2025. From 5.30pm, the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) will present a free concert on the grounds of the beautiful Civic Park.
The “Sounds of Autumn” concert will feature stunning performances from New England Brass Collective, JAZZ LAB, Armidale Youth Winds, New England Singers and Armidale Youth Orchestra. Food trucks will also be on-site for all the food and drinks you could ever want to enjoy an evening in the park.
The main event is Saturday, April 5, promising a full schedule with something for everyone. Highlights will include live music, the annual Campus to City Canter running event, markets and food trucks, and the ever-popular parade around the CBD, which will kick off at 12 pm.
All eyes will be on the sky at 11.45 am as the Freedom Formation team performs a breathtaking aerial acrobatics display. The 13-strong squad of planes will perform their signature multi-layered display over Armidale right before the parade starts.
Also new for 2025 is the Global Gathering program. Held in Civic Park from 1.30 pm, this event aims to celebrate Armidale’s multicultural community. Featuring performances from Armidale’s Sudanese, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Thai, Celtic, Pacifica, Bollywood, and Ezidi communities, as well as a fashion show, this new addition to the festival is bound to be popular.
If you’re seeking something artistic, NERAM and the Armidale Art Gallery also hold special exhibitions in conjunction with the weekend’s festivities.
The Armidale Art Prize will hold its grand opening on Saturday, April 5, from 4 pm. Having held a special place in the local arts calendar since 2009, the event showcases the talent of both emerging and established artists across a broad range of categories.
NERAM will have three separate and unique exhibitions on show on the festival weekend, including KHR Stewart, a collection of NERAM’s leading pieces by contemporary female artists, and an experimental printmaking exhibition by Black Gully Printmakers.
Autumn Festival weekend will also herald the start of NSW Youth Week, with various activities held for Armidale’s youngest community members running daily in Beardy Street Mall from 9 am to 11am.
For more information about the Armidale Autumn Festival, visit the Armidale Regional Council website.
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