Yoga by the Beach, breakfast at the zoo and a screening of The Last Daughter are just some of the free 2023 Milbi Festival events community members can take part in.
The festival launches on Friday 27 October with a free oceanfront concert, headlined by Christine Anu at Bargara, and continues over 10 days celebrating arts, culture and the environment.
Friends and family can come together to enjoy the annual festival with more than 25 free experiences.
Milbi Festival free events and experiences include:
Sunset Launch
Spend a relaxed afternoon by the ocean with a heartfelt Welcome to country before singer songwriter extraordinaire Christine Anu takes to the stage to captivate the crowd with her iconic tunes.
There’s an opportunity to grab dinner from the food vans as community members witness the powerful moment as Bunya Mountain Murri Rangers hand over the 2023 message stick to the Gidarjill Land and Sea Rangers.
Friday 27 October
5 pm to 6.30 pm
Nielson Park Beach Bargara
Hatch Art Trail
Ready to explore? Embark on the Hatch Art Trail at Mon Repos in search of artistically created milbi eggs!
Created by talented locals from around the region, Hatch Art Trail is a free, fun and inclusive event for everyone of all ages to enjoy.
Trail maps will be available here during the festival to help you locate all 20 larger than life eggs installed throughout the Mon Repos Conservation Park.
Brought to you by Wide Bay Kids, Kate Victoria Creative, Happy Hearts of Bundaberg and Bundaberg Regional Council.
Friday 27 October – Sunday 5 November
Time: All day
Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Milbi Breakfast at the Zoo
Enjoy a truly unique breakfast experience, community yarn up and arts activities including a chalk pavement drawing and pendant creating run by Youth for the Future, alongside the animals that call Alexandra Park Zoo home.
With a delicious barbecue breakfast in hand, participants will receive a rare behind the scenes glimpse of zoo life as the gates open early, allowing community members to roam the zoo while enjoying live music by Jon Vea Vea.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 7.30 am – 9.30 am
Alexandra Park Zoo, Quay Street
The Gathering – Weaving Garden
Try your hand at weaving in a laid-back weaving session in this fantastic opportunity to learn, create, and connect with the local vibrant arts community.
Local artisans will be on hand to help you explore this fibre artform. They'll share their expertise and passion making sure everyone feels at ease.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 9.30 am – 1.30 pm
Gallery Park, Barolin Street
Wajgan's Return | manjalba ngulkurrijin minday | Sacrifice
Take the opportunity to explore the latest exhibitions at Bundaberg Regional Galleries, Wajgan's Return, manjulba ngulkurrijin minday and Sacrifice.
Young art lovers will also be entertained by the gallery trail and interactive Imaginarts space.
Friday 27 October – Sunday 5 November
Time: Gallery opening hours
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Barolin Street
The Gathering – Sound Square
A pop-up sound square behind Bundaberg Gallery set alongside the Simon DeGroot mural will feature talented local musicians and performers.
Be captivated by the diverse cultures and discover the rhythms that define our talented region. Relax with friends while you soak up the atmosphere and immerse yourself in this experience.
Grab something to eat from the onsite food truck, sit back, relax and enjoy the sounds of spring.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 10 am – 3 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Barolin Street
The Gathering – 5 Under 25
Discover the future of art in the Bundaberg Region as five brilliant young artists, under 25, unveil their diverse art practices in a vibrant showcase.
Each artist will be immersed in their craft for a two-hour session, allowing community members to witness their creative process, ask questions, and explore their art on a deeper level with hands on opportunities.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 10 am – 2.30 pm
Gallery Park, Barolin Street
The Gathering – Artist Talk with Ivy Minniecon
Join Gallery Director, Rebecca McDuff, and manjalba ngulkurrijin minday artist, Ivy Minniecon, as they explore the inspiration behind her stunning installation in The Vault and her connections to this country.
Ivy Minniecon is a proud Kuku Yalanji, Kabi Kabi, Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander artist currently completing her Honours Degree at Griffith University, Qld College of Art.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 10 – 11 am
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Barolin Street
The Gathering – Artist Talk with Gordon Hookey
In an exclusive one-off artist talk, join Gallery Director Rebecca McDuff and nationally acclaimed First Nations artist, Gordon Hookey.
Hailing from the Waanyi people, Hookey is recognised as one of the most inspiring and extraordinary, political artists of his generation.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 11.30 am – 12.30 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Barolin Street
The Gathering – Artist Talk with Angelina Hurley
Join Wajgan's Return curator, Angelina Hurley, as she shares family stories of her father, artist Ron Hurley, and the importance of his works being shown back on his country.
Ron was a Gooreng Gooreng/Mununjali man and is regarded as one Australia’s leading contemporary aboriginal artists.
Saturday 28 October
Time: 1 – 2 pm
Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Barolin Street
Yoga by the Beach
Whether you're new to yoga or a total yogi, this inclusive class overlooking Neilson Beach at Schuhkraft Park is set to be a blissfully serene start to the day.
Make sure you bring your own mat, towel and a drink bottle. It will be hot out there with limited sun protection provided, so please ensure to slip, slop, slap!
Saturday 28 October and Sunday 5 November
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
Schuhkraft Park, Bargara
Clay Chronicles: Storytelling through handmade vessels
Clay Chronicles is a group exhibition composed of handmade ceramic vessels by First Nations Elders.
The exhibition is the culmination of a series of workshops facilitated by Malki Studio in which participants were taught traditional techniques of clay vessel building as a means of telling their story.
Saturday 28 October and Sunday 5 November
Time: Daily 9 am – 3.30 pm | Exhibition opening 12 pm Saturday 28 October
School of Arts, Bourbong St
The Gathering – Living Anthology
A unique, conversation-style storytelling experience, where you loan a person, instead of a book… Five human books will be available for loan across two sessions, with attendees selecting two titles on arrival.
With ‘books’ from all walks of life, the Living Anthology invites people to delve into a captivating collection of human stories and embark on an enlightening journey you might not usually have the chance to experience.
Brought to you by Bundaberg Regional Libraries and Bundaberg Regional Galleries.
Sunday 29 October
Time: 10 – 11.30 am and 12.30 – 2 pm
Gallery Park, Barolin St
Bookings essential
Turtle Talks at the Zoo
Want to learn more about milbi? Come along to Alexandra Park Zoo to chat to our passionate zookeepers as they share their knowledge about these turtle-y awesome creatures!
Monday 30 October
Time: 10 – Noon
Alexendra Park Zoo, Quay St
Flyways – The untold journey of migratory shorebirds
The story of Australia’s migratory shorebirds is truly inspiring. Each year these birds fly from coastal feeding sites to the Arctic to breed in the northern hemisphere summer.
In this free screening of the ABC documentary Flyways, learn about these fascinating birds, how they navigate and manage these incredible feats of endurance.
Monday 30 October
Time: 10 – 11.30 am
Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Free | Bookings required
Lunchtime Live
Each weekday during Milbi Festival the heart of the Bundaberg CBRD will come alive as emerging performers from around the Bundaberg Region perform an hour of live music.
On Friday evening, the artists you’ve heard throughout the week will converge on the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre stage for a free Milbi Showcase Concert.
Monday 30 October – Friday 3 November
Time: 12 – 1 pm daily
Bundaberg CBD Pavilion
Great Barrier Reef: The Next Generation
In this free documentary screening, a cast of young marine explorers take us on an immersive journey into life on the Great Barrier Reef, during a summer of love.
Featuring stunning footage of coral spawning, fish breeding, birds and turtles returning to islands to nest, we celebrate the reef in a time of renewal and change.
Tuesday 31 October
Time: 6 – 7 pm
Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Free | Bookings required
Coral Conversations
Dive into the mesmerising world beneath the waves as we explore the intricate balance of life in the Australia’s oceans.
Coral Conversations is an enlightening and family friendly presentation, with a guest speakers who will take community members on a journey to uncover the hidden wonders of coral, the importance of these colourful ecosystems.
Wednesday 1 November
Time: 11 am – 12.30 pm
Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Free | Bookings required
Tangaroa Blue Beach Clean Up
Join the Tangaroa Blue for annual beach clean up to help prevent marine debris entering the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Make a positive difference to the natural areas by helping clean local beaches, reducing pollutants that would otherwise end up in the ocean.
Thursday 2 November
Time: 10 – Noon
Turtle Park, The Esplanade, Bargara
Registrations can be made here
The Last Daughter: Screening and Q&A
Join filmmaker Brenda Matthews for a screening her powerful documentary The Last Daughter.
The Last Daughter is a documentary about Brenda’s journey to unearth the truth about her past and to reconcile the two sides of her family.
Brenda Matthews’ first memories are of growing up in a loving white foster family, before she was suddenly taken away and returned to her Aboriginal family.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Brenda and foyer book signing.
Thursday 2 November
Time: 6 – 7.30 pm
Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Free, but bookings required
Milbi Showcase Concert
You’ve seen them perform in the CBD all week as part of Lunchtime Live, now join this collection of talented local musicians as they come together for an exclusive Milbi Festival showcase!
Witness Bevan Spiers, Keeley Allen, Marah Leigh and Meleane Havea take to the stage with a mix of covers and original music.
Come along and support some truly wonderful homegrown talent.
Friday 3 November
Time: 7 – 8 pm
Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Free, bookings required
Milbi @ Mon Repos
Celebrate the beginning of our turtle season with First Nations performances, entertainment and light refreshments as we showcase the importance of the Milbi to our First Nations People and how the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and local community are integral to the conservation of the incredible marine species.
Mon Repos supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and is home to the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region.
Sunday 5 November
Time: 9 – 4 pm
Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Stories from the Beach and Tales of Dark Skies Tour
Join the Sea Turtle Alliance to delve into the world of turtles and how you can help save the species.
Sunday 5 November
Time: 9.30 – 10 am and 1.15 – 1.45 pm
Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Tickets: Free, bookings required
Bookings:
Discover Mon Repos Tour
Join Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and journey through bush trails and beach as you learn about the unique flora and fauna, the marvels of inventor Bert Hinkler and turtle conservation efforts led by Dr. Col Limpus.
Sunday 5 November
Time: 10.15 – 10.45 am
Location: Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Tickets: Free but bookings required
Turtle Encounter Tour
Hear tales from the beach and discover what occurs under the stars during nesting season in this guided discussion by a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger.
Sunday 5 November
Time: 11 – 11.30 am and 12 – 12.30 pm
Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Tickets: Free, but bookings required
Turtle Hour
Residents and businesses are called on to flick the switch during Turtle Hour in support of the turtles for which the Bundaberg Region is world-renowned.
Anyone interested in being part of the annual event can easily get involved by simply turning off your lights!
This event is hosted in support of Bundaberg Regional Council's Reducing Urban Glow initiative.
To find out more about the ecological significance of turtles nesting in our region and how you can track light glow in our region, visit knowyourglow.com.au
Date: Sunday 5 November
Time: 7.30 – 8.30 pm
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