Returns with a 2 Day Event in 2025!
coinciding with the Anzac Day Public Holiday
Friday 25th April & Saturday 26th April, 2025
Go Fourth & Multiply!
The Trail Blazin', Star Gazin', Hell Raisin' Countrified Music Festival Concept, part magical mystery music bus tour part winery/brewery tour returns. With the promise of some minor tweaks & a few new innovations we think you'll really love...
Reunite with mates Old & New for Friday Night Family Dinner at everyone's favourite local The Union Hotel Heathcote for "Dinner & A Show" Stars & Bars Style.
Join The Heathcote Express as it rolls out again on Saturday for an Epic Multi Locale Magical Mystery Musical Bus Tour
The Heathcote Express Bus Tour rolls out Saturday 26th April from 10:30am where you'll enjoy early lunch at the historic Axedale Tavern then onwards to Tooleen to take in the rolling vistas of Tellurian Wines before you settle in at Shiraz Rebulic & Cornella Brewery for the late afternoon with the final destination on this whistle stop tour apexing in the traditional Evening Session at Palling Bros Brewery.
We've done a bit of Tinkering with this year's Fourth edition, including a Fresh New Lineup featuring a Ragtag Roster of Rebel Rousers, Revolutionaries & Ramblers as well as some Amazing new Locales to discover.
The Drunken Poachers, Bog Log III, Mightest Of Guns, Karl S.Williams & Sally Wiggins, Ezra Lee & His Boogie Woogie Band, Annie-Rose Maloney, Paper Jane, Ally Row + special guest DJ Chunky Love
Soundtrack your sonic sojourn in Central Victoria with everything from Alt Country & Americana to Rootsy Folk and Rockabilly, Horror Country to Australiana Bluegrass, to Deep Delta Blues and Electric Jungle Boogaloo and a heavy dosage of Old Time Rock’n’Roll for good measure.
Going Up The Country ...
Experience a countried combo of amazingly talented artists, Legendary Locales while exploring the region's finest wine, beer, spirits & food as well as that famous Heathcote Hospitality & some truly unique locales as the backdrops for the event.
Our Locales are much more than just pubs and wineries; they are immersive spaces with stories to tell, ideally suited for musical performances boasting indoor/outdoor stages with stunningly serene vistas.
Alright Ramblers, Let's Get Rambling...
3 Ticket Types...
SATURDAY TICKETS
TICKET 1
Heathcote Express Bus Tour
FRIDAY NIGHT TICKET
TICKET 2
Friday Night Family Dinner @ The Union Hotel Heathcote
Enjoy Dinner & A show Stars & Bars Style warm up event in the Union Hotel Heathcote's Indoor Beer Garden a Classic Pub Feed & Bands in the Back room.
Grab your ticket early to avoid disappointment!
Event ticket includes Entry to the Show in the Union Beer Garden from 7pm.
Dinner not included in Gig Ticket Price
Be sure to call the pub before the event to book a table for Dinner before the show.
SATURDAY NIGHT TICKET
TICKET 3
If you cant make the Bus Tour ... this is the ticket for you!
The Evening Session @ Palling Bros Brewery
Saturday 26th April, 2025
6:00pm – 11:00pm.
Palling Bros Brewry
168 High St, Heathcote.
$35 + b/f
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au.
Featuring 4 acts The Drunken Poachers, Bog Log III, Mightiest Of Guns + special guest DJ Chunky Love
If you can’t make a full day tour of it, join the tour at Palling Bros Brewery in the Beer Garden from 6pm. Enjoy a pre-show meal, sample some locally handcrafted beers or grab a Moon Dog Fizzer Seltzer from the Pop Up Bar.
Pre-sale tickets encouraged. Limited tickets available at the door.
Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride…
Explore Heathcote
Explore Heathcote as you roadtrip the highways, byways & everything in between the to & from your favourite annual Central Victorian Stay-Cation Destination.
With ample time to slow down the pace of this years' journey; we're Going Up The Country for a real Long Weekender !
Those arriving early will have the opportunity to pay their respects and remember those who served our Country by joining in local commemoration services with the local Heathcote RSL on Anzac Day on the Friday 25th April.
Heathcote Dawn Service is traditionally held at Lone Pine Memorial on Camp Hill Behind the Heathcote RSL Hall, 127 High St from 6am.
Followed by a community breakfast for a gold coin donation at the Heathcote RSL Hall,
Heathcote Commerative Service usually commences from 10.00am with Wreath laying service at 10.45am and official march down High Street to follow.
Lunch is usually served at Heathcote RSL for $10pp from 11.30am with Two-up, raffles and refreshments to follow.
More details to be provided from Heathcote RSL Sub Branch closer to the event.
There are also a number of other commemorative services held throughout the region including Tooborac, Lancefield, Axedale & Pyalong.
Accommodation
Leave The City behind & get On The Road Again with an extended Stay-Cation? Relax with friends old & new, take some time to tune in, drop out & breathe in some of that rarefied country air.
It's never too early to start planning your Long Weekend in Central Victoria's Heartland...
Heathcote Retreat Motel is a modern Motel in Central Victoria within the heart of Wine Country. Located in The Southern Hemisphere's Longest Main Street! Accommodation from budget to luxury, single to group stays for up to 66 guests.
The nearby Heathcote Queen Meadow Caravan Park is also conveniently located right in the centre of town, a short walk to the Bus Tour pick up point and Palling Bros Brewery’s Evening Session.
Explore Heathcote
Heathcote Accommodation Guide
Visitor Information Centre Booking Portal
Heathcote Visitor Guide
Stars & Bars Heathcote Travel Blogs
Heathcote & Surrounds
Heathcote has a sophisticated approach to the finer things in life. A welcoming village atmosphere awaits just a little over an hour from Melbourne, 2 hours from Geelong, 1 & ½ hours from Ballarat & 40 minutes from Bendigo. In the heart of Central Victoria and nestled beneath the stunning McHarg and McIvor Ranges, is the charming township of Heathcote.
It is fast becoming one of Australia's most loved wine regions. Good food, friendly cellar doors, spectacular landscapes, gold rush relics, local art and craft, serene bushlands and dark night skies dotted with stars make Heathcote an ideal place to explore.
Enjoy unique accommodation: from five-star offerings through to farms stays or pretty camping grounds and indulge in the delicious produce, food and wine options to be found in the area.
Spectacular landscapes allow you to truly take in the great outdoors, be it a picnic in the forest, or a walk or ride along the picturesque O’Keefe Rail Trail. Spend some time fishing, boating, skiing or swimming at Lake Eppalock or perhaps appreciate some of the many great historical sites in and around the township.
Beautiful gold rush era architecture lines the main street where you can also enjoy a great cup of coffee, sweet boutiques, good food and, of course, some damn fine wine tasting.
Getting to Heathcote
Travelling from Melbourne
Getting to Heathcote from Melbourne is an easy and beautiful 100 minutes drive. The distance from Melbourne to Heathcote is about 120km.
1. Via the Hume Highway
Once you are on the Hume Highway, proceed north past Craigieburn, take the Northern Highway exit at Beveridge and continue on the Northern Highway through the townships of Wallan, Kilmore and Tooborac to arrive at Heathcote.
2. Via the Calder Highway
Exit Melbourne via the Tullamarine Freeway, connect to the Calder Freeway, proceed north-west past Woodend, take the second exit into the township of Kyneton and at the roundabout veer north and continue along the Kyneton-Heathcote Road passing through Barfold and Redesdale.
3. Scenic Route
Coming from Melbourne, head toward the Tullamarine airport. Go past the airport following signs to Sunbury. You will drive thru Bulla down a great big dip, crossing a narrow bridge on your way to Sunbury. Before Sunbury, there is a roundabout at the turn to Lancefield & Romsey. Go right. Follow this road to the end thru Romsey, then Lancefield. It ends in Tooborac at the Northern Hwy (aka High St). Turn left and head towards Heathcote past the Tooborac Pub. About 15 kms ahead, you will enter Heathcote.
Travelling from Bendigo
1. Via the McIvor Highway
Start on Williamson Street and proceed along the McIvor Highway for 46 kms. It's a 40 minutes drive.
*Note that distances and times are approximate.
About The Festival
Trail Blazin', Star Gazin', Hell Raisin' Countrified Music Festival Concept. Limited Edition. First Time, Every Time. Instant Classic. Handpicked. Homegrown. Down Home. Take A Sonic Sojourn. Ramble On. Like A Hurricane. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.
Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride.
The brainchild of Festival Chief Lincon Boyd, from inception Stars & Bars Festival was designed as a Music Festival Concept. Harnessing & embracing constant evolution. Meta By Nature. It can be like water, taking on a multitude of forms; it can become whatever it wants to be, A true shape shifter. Not locked into any one dimensional plain, time, place, space, genre or pre-conceived notion. We're Eclectic. From Alt Country to Stoner Rock, Hip Hop to Classic Rock, Funk’n’Soul, Oceanic Cumbia & Afrobeat to the Deepest of Jungle House. Be Like Water My Friend.
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PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
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Stars & Bars Festival acknowledge Australia’s First Nation Peoples, The Wadawurrung, The Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung People & Their Ancestors. The Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our Festival occurs. We pay our respects to Their Elders, Past, Present & Future.
