Deans Marsh Festival 2026 – A Community Celebration to Remember

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Deans Marsh Festival. It was a truly special celebration of community spirit, with an atmosphere that was warm, welcoming and full of life. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback, and it’s a credit to the many people who contributed their time, energy and enthusiasm to make the day such a success.

While the heat saw numbers dip slightly from last year — with around 1,000–1,200 attendees (down from 1,500+) — the day ran incredibly smoothly. From start to finish, the festival was a reflection of what can be achieved when a community comes together.

There were so many highlights across the day. The Bird Call Competition brought plenty of laughs — including a surprise Black Cockatoo cameo that stole the show — and the new Dog Obstacle added a fun and energetic element that was loved by participants and spectators alike. In the ever-popular Big Dog Jump, reigning champion Rascal (with owner Stakka) held onto the title in impressive style, delighting the crowd once again.

The competitions didn’t disappoint, with a new Sheaf Toss Champion crowned — congratulations to Tim on a fantastic effort. “The Gift” races were as thrilling as ever, with outstanding performances across the board. Eva claimed the Women’s Open title, while James McLennan returned to take out the Men’s Open in a nail-biting finish, with Tommy coming an incredibly close second. A special mention must go to Mr Lunn for arguably the best stack of the day, bravely putting his body on the line to secure third place in the Men’s Open Gift — a moment that won’t be forgotten anytime soon!

From live music and market stalls to the art exhibition, children’s activities and classic festival favourites, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Behind the scenes, an extraordinary team of volunteers made it all happen. From the Friday set-up crew and stallholders, to coordinators, performers, community groups and the many hands who helped pack up at the end of the day — your efforts did not go unnoticed. A special thank you to our local groups including Deans Marsh Primary School, the Tennis Club, Cricket Club and SPaRK, as well as the Surf Coast Shire Youth Stage crew, whose contribution brought incredible energy and talent to the event.

We are also grateful for the support of our sponsors and partners, whose backing helps bring the festival to life each year - with a shout out to Surf Coast Events, The Store Deans Marsh and Winch Ag, Horse and Pet!

Events like this rely on community input, and we’d love to hear your thoughts as we look ahead to 2027. Please share your feedback and ideas here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T3KV6CX

Thank you again for being part of such a wonderful day — we’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year!