Stars & Bars Festival Heathcote Rides Again  with a

2 Day Festival Friday 17^th &  Saturday 18th April, 2026

We've ramped up the revolution and scoured the galaxy to deliver a star-studded Lineup with a slight cosmic tinge for edition #5 as well as 3 brand new Locales to discover on this years' Trip To The Country.

 

The Trail Blazin', Star Gazin', Hell Raisin' Countrified Music Festival Concept, part magical mystery music bus tour part winery/brewery tour rides again to soundtrack your sonic sojourn in Central Victoria’s Heartland.

Soundtrack your sonic sojourn in Central Victoria's Heartland delving into everything from Alt Country & Americana to Rootsy Folk, Rock'N'Soul, Australiana Bluegrass, Twangy Horror Country to Garage Blues & Fuzzed Out Psych Rock plus a heavy dose of Classic Rock thrown in for good measure...

 

 

A TRIP TO THE COUNTRY...

Stars & Bars Festival Heathcote brings together an assemblage of amazingly talented artists with some unique Central Victorian Goldfields Locales; combined with an exploration of the region's exceptional wines, craft beers, artisanal spirits, local produce as well as that famous Heathcote Hospitality.

 

Our Legendary Locales are much more than just pubs, breweries and wineries they are hand picked, immersive spaces with their own stories to tell, perfectly suited for musical performances with a mix of indoor & outdoor stages back dropped with stunningly serene vistas.
 

We're kicking off proceedings at a brand new locale The Watering Hole in the Main Street for Friday Night Family Dinner mixing things up a bit with a brand new indoor outdoor venue with a purpose built stage that's a favourite haunt for locals. 

 

The Heathcote Express  Bus Tour rolls out  Saturday 18th April, 2026  where you'll enjoy a magical mystery music tour of the Heathcote region.  

We'll travel to the famous  Redesdale Hotel  for an early lunch and beergarden performance , then onto  Sanguine Estate  for tastings and a cellar door show amongst  rolling hillside vistas.   

Followed by a much requested return journey to Munari Winery for afternoon tea for a Golden Hour set before arriving at our final destination  Palling Bros Brewery  for  The Evening Session.

OUR LEGENDARY LOCALES...

 

 

Alright Ramblers, Let's Get Rambling...

 

 

4 TICKET TYPES...

 

4 Event Ticket Types
 

1. Heathcote Express Bus Tour ( incl Palling Bros Brewery access ) -  Saturday 18/4/26

2.  Friday Night Family Dinner – The Watering Hole Heathcote  – Friday 17/4/26

3. The Evening Session – Palling Bros Brewery – Saturday 18/4/26

4. Bendigo Boomerang -  Return Bus Transfer Service - Saturday 18/4/26

 

 

SATURDAY TICKET

TICKET 1

 

Heathcote Express Bus Tour

 

           

SATURDAY NIGHT TICKET

TICKET 3

If you cant make the Satuday Bus Tour ... this is the ticket for you!

The Evening Session @  Palling Bros Brewery

Saturday 18th April, 2026

6:00pm – 11:00pm. 

Palling Bros Brewry

168 High St, Heathcote.

$40 + b/f 

Tickets via  www.oztix.com.au.

Featuring 4 acts  

O.R.B. , Immigrant Union, Bud Rokesky

+ 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 or cocktail from the Envy Distilling Pop Up Bar.

Pre-sale tickets encouraged. Limited tickets available at the door.

 

BENDIGO BOOMERANG BUS 

TICKET 4

 

Bendigo Boomerang Bus Transfer Service 

Saturday 18th April, 2026

Pick Up Bendigo Train Station 9:45am

Drop Off Bendigo Train Station 12:00am

( departs from Palling Bros Brewery 11:00pm Sharp )

$45 + b/f  Tickets via  www.oztix.com.au. 

This transfer service is available on a strictly limited basis & subject to capacity.

Bus Transfers are produly provided by  

Escape Tours

Blue Wren Shuttles 

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.

Why Not make the most of your visit to Heathcote and make a long weekend of it!

 

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 trip to  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.

187 Heathcote and Heathcote Inn also provide motel accomodation in the centre of town.

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.