FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025
Words in Winter – Across Two Weekends in August – Words will be
whispered, dark thoughts will fester, and light revelations will prevail if you
desire. Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Words in Winter amongst
the Central Victorian landscape of Daylesford & Hepburn Springs.
Words in Winter Festival Dates – Friday 22- Sunday 31 August
Locations: Hotel Bellinzona, Daylesford Hotel, Radius Art, Paradise Bookshop, Daylesford Library,
Stony Creek Gallery, Spade to Blade & Yandoit Cultural Centre
Now in its 24th year, the beloved Words in Winter Festival joyfully returns to Daylesford and Hepburn
Springs in 2025. This year, we’re illuminating the theme Light in the Dark – a thoughtful reflection of
the festival’s deep commitment to creativity, hope, and the transformative power of storytelling.
As fireplaces crackle to life and the crisp winter air embraces the region, our festival invites you to
find warmth and connection in stories, art, and community. Guests can even enjoy Hotel Bellinzona’s
specially crafted literary cocktails from the Bellinzona bar between sessions, at the festival hub in the
heart of Hepburn Springs, adding a touch of spirited creativity to the experience! For out-of-towners
seeking to truly immerse themselves, Hotel Bellinzona also offers accommodation for the weekend.
Across two vibrant weekends, the festival presents a rich programme boasting 45 events and over 80
artists involved, with an even split of local talent and visiting artists, emerging and established –
offering literary events, performances, conversations, art installations and free events, storytelling,
workshops and children’s programs that invite audiences to immerse themselves in the power of
words.
Words in Winter offers a diverse and accessible literary experience, with half the program free or by
donation and the entire Conversation Hub series only $10/$15 a session. Affordable ticket options
and free sessions make it easy to engage with storytelling in all its forms for locals and visitors alike.
No matter your background or budget, Words in Winter invites you to celebrate the power of language
and creativity as you immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region.
This year’s expanded program promises something for everyone – here are just a selection of
highlights:
● Official Festival Launch: Kicking off at 5 pm with a Welcome to Country from Djaara Elder
Aunty Sandra Barber, readings from Daylesford Secondary College students, and
performances by local Daylesford choir The Honey Tones and Guerrilla Poetry. Free with
limited capacity – registrations essential.
● Words in Winter Gala: Our Opening Night Gala Event will be hosted by local theatre director,
producer, and much-loved actor Lyall Brooks (Lab Kelpie) – a guaranteed start to a night of
literary revelry and culinary indulgence. The night kicks off with a delicious dinner, brought to
you by Hotel Bellinzona, and the dulcet tones of jazz trio Late Night Radio, featuring local
chanteuse Cherie Bridges. Next is a very special session of On the Couch hosted by
award-winning playwright and producer Rebecca Lister, sharing the stage with a phenomenal
line-up including multi-award-winning novelist and essayist Tony Birch (Women & Children),
critically acclaimed author and journalist Jenny Valentish (The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the
House), and musician, writer, and disability advocate Eliza Hull (Running Underwater). The night
ramps up with Lit Karaoke – where literature meets song – think Wuthering Heights meets Dire
Straits’ Romeo and Juliet. Tickets are available for dinner and the show, or the show only. Book
fast – this is guaranteed to sell out!
● Better off Said – Eulogies for the Living and the Dead: Presented by award-winning Australian
poet and spoken-word performer Emilie Zoey Baker and inimitable Marieke Hardy, host of her
sometimes funny and sometimes sad podcast Going to Die – this not-to-be-missed salon event
will include four very special guests (yet to be announced) who will speak to the phrase “the
words I wish I’d said” and deliver a Living Eulogy to celebrate the best in our lives while we’re
here to hear it. Tickets on sale now!
● Conversation Hub: Prepare to be captivated by a brilliant and rich programme of affordable,
unique, and intimate conversations, talks, and performances featuring award-winning writers,
artists, poets, journalists, and academics all within the iconic Hotel Bellinzona grounds. Delve
into the secrets of crime fiction with documentarian turned crime-writer Zane Lovitt and Kelly
Gardiner, whose 2025 Austenesque detective novel, Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective, is
destined to be the first of many with its almost instantaneous fan club. Explore the compelling
narratives of defiant women from the 19th century with Gail Holmes (In the Margins) and
Marion Taffe (By Her Hand). Join in playful discussions around fantasy and romance, featuring
bestselling and award-winning author Keshe Chow (The Girl with No Reflection) and Lisa
Tirreno (Prince of Fortune). Gain vital insights into queer perspectives with Danielle Scrimshaw
(She and Her Pretty Friends) and local writer/historian Jill Blee (Champagne at Three).
Contemplate how place and identity are interwoven in writing memoir, as Nadia Mahjouri (Half
Truth) and Rijn Collins (Fed to Red Birds) take us on journeys from Australia back to their roots
in Iceland and Morocco. For more on the place of poetry in contemporary society, check out ‘To
Be or Not to Be – The Poet Laureate Debate’, where award-winning poet Tim Loveday
moderates this spicy battle of wits and words about the value and impact of the 2026
inaugural Poet Laureate title on the Australian cultural psyche and the national poetry
landscape. Join poets Izzy Roberts-Orr, Barry James Gilson, and Eartha Davis as they thrash
out the pros and cons. All Conversation Hub tickets are $15/ $10
● Esteemed arts & culture academic heavyweights, Jade Lillie (The Relationship is the Project)
and Heather Robinson (Beyond the Books: Culture, value, and why libraries matter), discuss
cultural value in contemporary Australia to coincide with Robinson’s book launch.
● Petrus Spronk, ceramist and sculptor responsible for the magical bluestone masterpiece
signposting the State Library of Victoria, will take audiences on a personal journey from
homelessness to a commission for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in What I Still Remember.
● My Temporary Name was Refugee! Chapter 1–Poetry Reading: Comedian, Hype-Rapper, Poet,
Calligrapher, and Africa’s Got Talent Finalist Mo Sudi (Somalia Too Soon) will join Words in
Winter for the first time for a very special one-off adults-only performance at Daylesford Hotel
–$10/$15.
● Understanding Palestine: Continue your cross-continent exploration with Palestinian musician,
scholar, writer, and linguist Yousef Alreemawi, who will share stories and poetry of the rich and
diverse history of Palestine with live Arabic music and home-made Palestinian meals courtesy
of local culinary favourite Spade to Blade. All proceeds will be donated to ASPIRE. Lunch is
optional.
● Workshops: Dive headfirst into the creative process with a range of hands-on writing
workshops suitable for all ages and skill levels. From Writing Trauma without Traumatising
Yourself with micro and flash-fiction writer and psychiatrist and trauma specialist Sumitra
Singam, to Chainsaw Poetics with acclaimed critic, poet, and author Bonnie Cassidy
(Monument), get your confidence and writing chops chiselled with these intimate and
interactive winter workshops. Tickets and prices range. Limited Spaces. Book early to avoid
disappointment.
● Family / Children’s Programs: The festival is a fantastic destination for families, offering a
range of engaging activities specifically designed for younger enthusiasts across both
weekends, with a range of free and ticketed events. Registrations are essential.
○ Storytime at Daylesford Library: Local authors Kate Foulds and Claire Clifton, along
with visiting children’s author Julie Murphy, will bring tales to life, complete with special
storybook character appearances and craft activities.
○ Making a Monster Workshop: Kids can invent their literary monsters and creatures with
acclaimed author Stuart Orr.
○ Squishface Comic Workshop: Melbourne’s Squishface Studio, run by award-winning
graphic novelist David Blumenthal, will guide children on how to create their very own
comics.
○ School Writing Awards: Guest author Emma Gourlay (Kip of the Mountain) presents
awards to talented young local writers.
○ Family Farm Band: Daylesford’s beloved musical family returns with an all-ages
Americana music storytelling event.
● Free Around the Town: Explore the festival beyond the ticketed events with these accessible
and public-facing activities. Adding a unique immersive flavour to the experience, here are just
a few of the pop-up happenings happening during the festival:
○ Phone a Poem: Experience this interactive programme created by Izzy Roberts-Orr. Pick
up a handset at locations like Paradise Bookshop, Daylesford Library, and the Tourist
Info Centre, and immerse yourself in the festival’s audio archive of poetry. Available
from July 25th to August 31st.
○ Guerilla Poetry: Keep an eye out for spontaneous, multi-language poetic readings
hosted by local icon Jean-Marc Dupré. Happening at random cafes around the shire on
August 23rd and 24th, these pop-up readings feature short poems delivered in their
native languages, followed by an English translation. Expect to hear German, Kabylian,
Serbian, Finnish, Italian, French, and Middle English.
Words in Winter Festival 2025 is a true celebration for all, whether you’re a devoted book lover, a
budding writer, or simply curious about the profound impact of stories (and need a Winter getaway
somewhere lovely). Set against the stunning backdrop of Daylesford and Hepburn on Djaara Country,
the festival promises a weekend brimming with inspiration, connection, and community spirit.
Festival Producer, Devon Taylor aptly puts it, “Whether you want gala glamour or casual bookshop
chats, there’s a perfect space for every story lover. We’ve carefully curated each venue’s atmosphere –
from Bellinzona’s sophisticated literary salons to Yandoit’s grassroots open mic energy”.
“Words in Winter is a true highlight of our region’s calendar,” adds Morgan Williams from Radius Art. “It’s
a wonderful chance for our community to come together, celebrate creativity, and be inspired by the
stories that shape our lives”.
Words in Winter acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung as the Traditional Owners and custodians of
Djandak, the lands and waterways on which Words in Winter works, plays, and rests. We celebrate the
Djaara as storytellers and culture holders and recognise the tens of thousands of years of storytelling
that have taken place on these lands. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. Sovereignty
was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
Check out the full program via www.wordsinwinter.com.
All Media Enquiries: Lior Albeck-Ripka | 0422 962 823 | lioralbeckripka@gmail.com
