March 9th, 2026Cresfest: The joy of live music

CresFest is about the joy of live music – playing it, hearing it, watching it, dancing to it, learning it and being inspired by it – it all happens in the lovely heritage town in Central Victoria, harnessing the special warmth of the community of Creswick.
With the fifth CresFest in April 2026, audiences will enjoy three days of dance and music from a huge and diverse range of performers, from international stars to local newcomers will entertain over the weekend of Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12. With up to 18 small venues running at once, everyone is guaranteed to get up close and personal with some amazing acts.
And more than concerts, people will have the chance to participate in a densely packed program of workshops including singing, dancing and playing. Learn new skills and take part in the fabulous “Second Line comes to Creswick” extravaganza (the fifth street event of the sort, following Bollywood in ’22, Salsa in ’23, Klezmer in ’24 and Rhythms of Frica in ’25). On Saturday, April 11 the festival takes over the centre of town with New Orleans style brass bands and a host of Creswick school children supported by adult community musicians from the district.
Budding performers can enter the IGA Busking Competition for great prizes or sign up for open mic spots.
Each year local players are invited to take place in workshops, to learn from and perform with visiting professionals, in a true two-way collaboration that brings new skills and renewed enthusiasm to musicians.
It all happens in the glorious old buildings and on the streets of Creswick, the middle weekend of the school holidays in 2026.
Growing from a project of the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre in 2022 to a fully fledged not-for-profit in 2025, CresFest is proudly supported by most of the 3000-strong community, one way or another.