Tilba Easter Festival

• On Easter Saturday - 22nd of March - the 24th Tilba Easter Festival promises yet another very exciting and enjoyable day of festivities - as the old village of Central Tilba once again expands its population from hundreds to many thousands.

• This year's fun and entertainment for all ages will once again include:- live music, roaming street performers, hilarious street games with prizes, the Third Tilba art show and craft demonstrations, market stalls, lots of yummy food and more!

» click here to download the 2008 Festival Programme (PDF - 25KB)

» download printable bus time-table (PDF)

• Easter Saturday is the one day each year when the street is closed to traffic and open to a huge array of culture and festivities. A modest donation of is the unbelievably cheap admission which covers all the entertainment all day long!

Festival Admission. is a
Donation of $5 adults, $2 children (2-16yrs).

Note: Bate Street, Central Tilba will be closed to traffic from 8am-5pm on the day of the festival (22nd March)

• The festival is proud to be a volunteer non-profit community project, completely free of corporate sponsorship, and dedicated to the happiness of all who attend. Tilba’s warm community spirit makes it possible, so come and share this spirit with us! ....preferrable on a BUS - as parking is limited - see bus timetable below.

Symons Buses to Tilba Festival

9.30am & 11.00am – Dalmeny Bowling Club
9.35am & 11.05am – Dalmeny Shops
9.40am & 11.10am – Kianga Opposite Phone Box
9.45am & 11.15am – Narooma Information Centre
9.47am & 11.17am – Narooma Trax Travel/Main Town
9.50am & 11.20am – Narooma Plaza
9.55am & 11.25am – Island View Caravan Park
10.15am & 11.45am – Approx. arrival

Departing Tilba Festival

2.45pm & 4.00pm – Depart Tilba Festival

Fares: Adults $5 each way Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult - max. 2 children per adult.

Ph (02) 44764 827

» download printable time-table (PDF)

• This year the entertainment and activities promise to be more varied and exciting than ever. See below for information on some of the acts and activities which will feature.

» click here to download the 2008 Festival Programme (PDF - 25KB)

• Cheese Rolling
Central Tilba is renown for its award winning cheese, it’s beautiful Dromedary mountain, it’s picturesque dairy farms & it’s quaint historical shops & buildings. Now Central Tilba is becoming famous for “Cheese Rolling”, yes that’s right, local’s & visitors alike are pitching their skills against one another in the art of cheese rolling.

Reigning Women’s Champion, Caroline Leach says “It’s not quite as easy as you might think. There are strict rules & competition can get pretty stiff. But it is a sport for everyone & nobody should be afraid at having a go”

When asked if she had any tips for the novice cheese roller, Caroline says, “ I find a cool cheese rolls better than a warm one, so try to get into the earlier heats, as the afternoon could produce a slower track. Also concentration & a keen eye help.”

Cheese Rollers from around the country are invited to participate in the next Cheese Rolling Competition being held at the Tilba Easter Festival on the 22nd March 2008.

Sponsor for this event, providing, ‘The Rolling Cheese’ is The ABC Cheese factory & the prizes are, of cours, cheese.

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• The Croobyar Project
The Croobyar Project are Noel Butler (Didgeridoos, vocals and percussion) and Mark Nangle (Vocals, guitars, whistles, bodhran).

Noel is a direct descendant from the Budawang People while Mark emigrated to Australia in 1986 from Ireland.

They live just outside Milton in an area called Croobyar and have been playing together for the last couple of years in and around the Milton-Ulladulla area.

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• DJ & The KarismaKatz
Since forming in 2004 DJ & the KarismaKatz have established themselves as a versatile group playing a mix of acoustic roots music including blues, jazz and r ‘n’ b.

DJ & her ‘Katz have been moving audiences with their roller coaster ride of raw emotion and dynamic tension delivered with truly impressive musicianship.

DJ GOSPER (lead vocal, blues harp, occasional acoustic guitar) DJ fronts the duo with her beguiling stage presence, expressive resonant vocals and honey-drippin’ blues harp playing.

In 2004, she was awarded “Best Instrumentalist of the Year” by Canberra Roots Music. In November 2007 DJ scooped the Canberra Blues Society Awards winning three of the six music categories: "Best Vocalist", "Best Instrumentalist" and "Best Song" (Burn Baby Burn, co-written with ‘Katz guitarist, Christo Carlsen).

CHRISTO CARLSEN (harmony vocal, acoustic guitars) Christo is a veteran of the Canberra music scene. He provides sympathetic and innovative accompaniment to DJ’s performance. His intricate percussive guitar moves, developed through years of busking, often leaves entranced audiences in awe!

• Byjingo
Byjingo is a lively & entertaining Australiana band, playing everything from Waltzing Matilda to Australian & International rock.

Their talented & energetic line up will get you up dancing with their own style of didgeridoo, lagerphone, washboard, guitars, banjo, concertina, accordion, harmonica vocals & drums.

Be prepared to get your hands clapping & your toes tapping.

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• True Blue
Talented locals, Heather Butcher & Graeme Osbourne, will be playing all our old favourites from the 50’s through to the present.

You’ll know the words, come along & join in.

• Warren Foster
A local young & talented indeginous musician, Warren’s style of music is wowing audiences wherever he performs.

He is truly a rising star, not to be missed.

• Laughter Yoga
Adrian Wragg has worked, played, lived and travelled to many different countries around the world and knows from life experience that humour has a positive affect on our health and personal wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of those around us.

Adrian actively promotes laughter as a fun-filled way of preventing and reducing stress & general fatigue and will be delivering Laughter Yoga sessions at the Tilba Easter Festival.

Join him and other like-minded people to find out more about this uplifting, liberating and heart warming experience - just for a laugh!

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• Lenka's Puppets
A mesmerising, dream-like, performance, of puppetry, delightful music and live storytelling. The imaginary fairytale world of fairies, witches, water spirits and nature elements in a futile struggle with the world of humans. Rusalka, a water-nymph, trades her beautiful voice, her family
for the chance to win the love of a human prince. A charming theatrical performance for children and grown ups of all ages inspired by the famous opera Rusalka.

The Czech composer Antonín Dvorák's main influence for the beautiful was the magical fairytale "TheLittle Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen.

Lenka & Lynn Thomas also tell the dreamtime story of Toonkoo & Ngaardi.

Lenka Muchová, puppet maker/puppeteer grew up in Prague, The Czech Republic, where"walking and talking puppets" is a very popular traditional art form. She has learnt her skills from her mother, an
opera costume designer and father, a famous actor and magician.

Lenka performed her popular shows for children, families and opera puppet shows at Sydney Festival, Australia Day, Adelaide Fringe Festival,
Woodford Folk Festival and Peats Ridge Festival.

• Third Tilba Art Show
The third Tilba Art Show will again be themed on the mountain Gulaga, which shadows the town of Tilba. This year the theme is Gulaga - Wisdom of the Forest.

Local artists are invited to participate - there is an entry fee per item of $10 per entry - and the chance to win the People' Choice Award of $200.
The show will be opening at 6pm on Easter Thursday at a special launch event, with entertainment and refreshments provided.

The art can be viewed Easter Friday through Monday. Children and young people up to the age of 18 can also participate - with entry fees of $3 per item. There is a Children's Award in the People' Choice of $50.

All artworks need to be delivered to the Central Tilba Big Hall on Wednesay 19 March by noon or delivered to Gulaga Gallery earlier.

Entry forms are available by calling 0419 200 737 or dropping in to Gulaga Gallery.There will also be an art event on Easter Saturday - the compilation of a Message Tree - with drawings or messages for the trees of Gulaga. Adults and children can participate in making this community art piece. Come along and join the arty fun!

» click here to download the 2008 Festival Programme (PDF - 25KB)