Yackandandah Folk Festival
A folk festival that often punches well-above it's weight by always attracting a smattering of international acts to complement the local talent on display.
The festival's aims to provide a wide range of entertainment (music, song, dance, poetry, literature, theatre, film, visual arts and food) that reflects a commitment to the preservation and development of the folk culture, as it is known in Australia and overseas. It showcases talents of local people involved in artistic and cultural activities that promote community expression or development of the folk culture.
The festival is family-friendly and keeps costs low, providing a range of entertainment to accommodate the needs of all age groups and providing facilities that are safe. Any financial profits 
to the Yackandandah Folk Festival are funding future festivals
When? 15th Annual Festival 23-25 March, 2012
Where? Yackandandah, VIC. National Trust town, set among the hills of North East Victoria, is everything you can imagine about an early pioneering village.
Who? In 2012 - Zeptepi, Wouter Kellerman (South Africa), Truckstop Honeymoon (USA), The Two Girls (yackoustic 2011 winners), The Rainmakers, The Eastern (NZ), The Bluehouse, Nick and Liesl, Nathan Rogers (Canada), Muhanamwe (Africa), Kym Pitman, Humbug, Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson, Faye Blais (Canada), Dreamboogie, Carus, April Verch (Canada), April Maze.
Tourist Office? Yes
Festival Website? Yackandandah Folk
Tickets? $65 - $90 in 2012
Past Festivals? Pete Denahy, Cottars from Cape Breton , Ann Vriend , The Oily Girl., Hayward William, Francesca Sidoti
About Yakandandah
Hume and Hovell passed through the Yackandandah valleys in 1824, not long before the area was first settled in about 1837. After the gold finds of 1852 the Yackandandah Creek and its tributaries were peppered with alluvial sites. Many tent towns came and went, but the Yackandandah site, among others, flourished. Shops were established, and then services, banks, churches, post and transport.
In 1856 the township was surveyed, land sales began in the following year and substantial buildings were constructed. The town retains a wealth of its Victorian architecture, and picturesque tree lined streets.
Many buildings, sites, trees and the commercial core of town are now listed by the Australian Heritage Commission, Heritage Victoria and the National Trust.
The National Trust say about Yackandandah, "The existence of such an intact and well preserved example of a 19th century mining-based township is of great significance and should be protected. The highlights of Yackandandah are its location nestled in the folds of the surrounding hilly ranges, the compactness of the town layout clustered in a valley, the character and scale of the historic buildings along the main street which is lined by mature exotic trees". Along with Beechworth, Chiltern and Rutherglen, Yackandandah offers fantastically well preserved historic townships, uniquely retained and bursting with character.
The local rural farming landscapes are another reason to visit the area
- some of the farming practices date back many decades. You will see Monet type haystacks believe it or not, and rolling hillsides, olive groves, vineyards, mountains and much more. The North East is a positive cornucopia of views to delight the eye and the senses.
Accommodation and Visitor Information
There's a wide range of accommodation available - camping spots at lovely shady Butson's Park - Yack's football club for the Festival Weekend, or character bed and breakfasts, motels and the caravan park.For more information about all ranges of accommodation in Yackandandah and for visitor information, visit the Unique Yackandandah website: www.uniqueyackandandah.com.au or speak to the friendly people that run the Information Centre on 02 6027 1988.
For booking a camp site for the Friday/Saturday nights, please follow the link here.
