Festivals Near Guest House Katoomba: A Year of Culture and Celebration

 

Festivals of Katoomba:

A Celebration of Culture, Music, and Community is Situated in the beautiful Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Katoomba is widely recognized for its stunning natural scenery and for its exciting festival calendar. Throughout the year, Katoomba's festivals draw locals, artists, musicians, and visitors from all parts of the world, and incorporate the creative life of the region by bringing art, music, performance and community together in an extraordinarily Katoomba way. Here is an overview of Katoomba's major festivals, along with the festivals' approximate dates and highlights.


Winter Magic Festival – June

The most iconic festival in Katoomba is the Winter Magic Festival held around the time of the winter solstice, in mid to late June. The Winter Magic Festival started as a community festival in 1994 and has now grown, becoming one of New South Wales's largest regional festivals. The festival takes place over a few blocks of the main street in Katoomba where the roads are closed to traffic to make way for a parade, music and dance, street theatre, market stalls, and art works. Thousands of people wear colorful costumes to celebrate the beauty of winter in the Blue Mountains. The 2024 Winter Magic festival took place on the 21 - 23 June and attracted people from around Australia.

Blue Mountains Music Festival – March

Katoomba is the place to be every March for the Blue Mountains Music Festival, a three day celebration of folk, roots, blues, and world music. The festival takes place in various venues all within walking distance of one another, and features over a hundred performances by both local Australian artists and international performers. This festival started a few decades ago and has become a firm favourite for music lovers looking for intimate performances in a laid-back, welcoming mountain environment. In 2025 the festival will run from the 14th to 16th of March and will once again offer a heart-felt and soulful mix of genres and artists through all three days of the festival.

Katoomba Spring Equinox Festival – September

The Katoomba Spring Equinox Festival takes place around late September to mark the arrival of spring. In this festival, the lower half of Katoomba Street is closed to traffic and the town hosts a vibrant street party full of live music, dancing, family-friendly activities, and creative performances. Local artists, families, and community groups are engaged and excited to share in and host the events, which are all home-grown from within the community and so it's an event that anyone who is part of the community can easily join in. The festival typically runs from mid-day into the evening and provides entertainment to those attending of all ages while showcasing the creative energy of the Blue Mountains community.

Vertical Film Festival – Biennial

The Vertical Film Festival is a one of a kind event exclusive to Katoomba that takes place every two years and showcases films that are produced in vertical format, often seen on modern screens or smartphones. Established in 2014, it wants filmmakers to engage with the concept of vertical as a storytelling device that could move us beyond the confines of cinema. We screen in many unusual and inventive locations for Katoomba's special audience to experience an art form that's more complete than the standard going to a theatre. The Vertical Film Festival seeks to create a space where innovative stories can be captured vertically, as Katoomba's cultural calendar cannot be beaten!

Six Foot Track Marathon – March

While the Six Foot Track Marathon does not account itself as a festival, it ranks as Katoomba's most widely celebrated annual event each March. A 45km race through rugged woodland from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves, the event provides an opportunity for elite athletes and intrepid runners  to push their limits and experience some of the most picturesque views in Australia. With liscenced property crossings, steep climbs, river crossings, and some technical nature trails, the actual course experience must be better than the athletes and volunteers attention to endurance, grit, and determination. However, it is truly an event for participants and observers alike, whether to enjoy a cold beverage in the festival atmosphere, or to cheer on working their way through the core athletes expedition.
Conclusion

At this guest house in Katoomba, La Maison Boutique Hotel, we consider Katoomba’s festivals a vital part of the experience in the Blue Mountains. Just minutes from our doorstep, you can enjoy the Winter Magic Festival, feel the rhythms of the Blue Mountains Music Festival, experience the joy of spring at the Equinox Festival, and engage with creativity at the Vertical Film Festival. Each brings its own "magic" to an already vibrant cultural heart of Katoomba, and when you stay with us, you have the perfect home base. Whether it is the crispness of Winter, the beauty of the spring bloom, or the glorious colors of Autumn, La Maison is the perfect place to relax after a day of festival fun.