The Warrandyte Festival has been a staple of this country town since 1977!
Come to Warrandyte to celebrate this wonderful festival, which features a Billy Cart Derby, a Parade, live music, kids’ activities, and more.
Warrandyte Festival 2026 Parade Dates, Market & Program, Melbourne
The festival is all about family fun: live music, events, and whacky races. There is also a billy cart derby, kids’ market, silent disco, battle of the bands, and so much more.
Free to all, Warrandyte Festival attracts about 10,000 people on a fine weekend. With scrumptious food, incredible music and the enduring appeal of Warrandyte’s charm and community spirit, it’s not hard to see why!
Please note that the Warrandyte Festival is a no-smoking event across the entire Reserve all weekend. So come down to Stiggants Reserve, Yarra Street, Warrandyte, for a great weekend of fun and live music.
Battle of the Bands
Located at the River Stage on Stiggants Reserve. It’s a free event that’s suitable for all ages. This is a drug-, alcohol-, smoke- and vape-free event.
Billycart Derby
Warrandyte’s answer to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, watch as billy carters compete for immortality in the derby that delivers epic thrills and lots of great prizes and trophies!
Duck Race
Enter your yellow plastic duck to battle for the glory of making it to the finish line. Will yours be the Duck of the Day? Purchase ducks at some local schools/ kinders beforehand, or at the Information Tent during the Festival.
-
Ducks can be purchased online until 5.00pm on Friday 21 March
-
Ducks can be purchased in-person at the Info Tent on Festival weekend until 1.00pm on Saturday 29 March
Local schools and kinders: Ducks purchased online can be collected from your school or kinder on 25 and 26 March only (available for Anderson Creek PS, Kangaroo Ground PS, Park Orchards PS, Warrandyte Kinder, Warrandyte PS, Wonga Park PS, Yarra Warra Kinder).
Members of the public who have purchased a duck online can collect or say hello to their duck at the Information Tent on Saturday 29 March before 1pm.
Any uncollected ducks will be automatically entered into the race.
Entry time: If you want your undecorated duck to race, please return it to the Information Tent by 1pm on Saturday, March 29.
Kid’s Dodgeball
Form your own mixed-gender teams of six in the following year level groups:
- Prep –2
- Grade 3 – 5
- Grade 6 – 8
- Year 9 –12
Adults and children under 5 are unable to participate. Each match will last 10 minutes, and the winning teams will advance to the finals.
All players’ parents must register their children individually
Food Stalls
The Festival Committee aims to offer festival-goers a variety of food and drinks to suit every taste. Food stalls operate throughout the weekend.
Market Stalls
The Festival Committee aims to offer festival-goers a unique array of personally created, hand-made art and craft goods in a friendly and colourful atmosphere.
The Market supports artists and craftspeople who create their own items and produce art in Australia.
Kid’s Market
The Warrandyte Festival Kid’s Market welcomes applications from local children to run stalls selling homemade or home-grown goodies.
This is an arts and crafts market. The Warrandyte Festival Kid’s Market is about homemade or homegrown items, in accordance with Warrandyte Festival guidelines and policies. All goods must be handmade or homegrown by the children selling them at the market.
Getting There
Driving via the Eastern Freeway is best for getting to Warrandyte from Melbourne. Street parking may be limited during the festival. During the parade on Saturday, Yarra Street will be closed to traffic from the Harris Gully Road roundabout to the Bridge roundabout.
We encourage you to car pool, walk, ride or take public transport.
General Parking
Street parking is free but may be limited in the streets surrounding Stiggants Reserve.
Park in designated parking spaces only. Parking inspectors will be in the area during the event.
Permit parking
Permit parking areas are strictly reserved for permit holders only. Permits must be displayed at all times.
Take buses
-906 from the City
-364 from Ringwood Station
-578 or 579 from Eltham Station to Warrandyte.
Hello Organizers,
I am applying for a market stall site at the Warrandyte Festival. For many years I have had a stall each Warrandyte Community Market/ now Warrandyte Riverside Market. My goods have been received most enthusiastically and very much suit the Warrandyte community.
In my stall I have natural fiber, (including cotton, linen, silk and alpaca,) clothing and accessories. These items feature exciting and elegant fabrics and designs.
If possible I would like a double site. Could you please let me know if it is possible to have a site and how you would like payment to be made.
Thank you
Best regards
Elaine (Blueberry Laine)
Hi Elaine,
Please contact the event organisers who can assist you with organising a stall at the Warrandyte Festival in 2017: [email protected]
Kind regards,
Jess