A bold and bright return for Festival of W this winter
Festival of W, Wagga Wagga's premier destination winter event, is set for a bold and bright return this July.
The 2025 curated festival program includes immersive light-art experiences, entertainment and installations by local and national artists, a pop-up dining hub, and the return of the popular outdoor iceskating rink.
There are a lot of exciting and entertaining features on the program for this year’s 16-day festival, which lights up from Saturday 5 July.
Council’s Destination & Events
Coordinator Kimberly Parker says the festival, now in its fourth year, continues to deliver new and exciting elements, some of which have never been seen before in regional NSW.
“We’ve spent the past 12 months curating the program, taking into account feedback we received from festival-goers in 2024,” Ms Parker said.
“The festival features local, national, and international artists and performers as well as local businesses. There will be live music every Saturday evening, which will include winter food and drink offerings from regional vendors.
“Council has partnered with leading Australian multi-disciplinary design and production experts, Mandylights, to deliver a free, large-scale, light, and
sound experience.
“It will illuminate the Wollundry Lagoon precinct and this year's theme centres around reflection and refraction."
Elements of the festival will complement NAIDOC Week, which occurs during the festival, with four local Wiradjuri artists working with Mandylights and local projection artist Alice Peacock to design installations.
This year, there will be additional road closures to increase the festival area and ensure a safer environment for festival attendees.
On-street activations on Morrow Street, Baylis Street and Burns Way, have been proudly funded by the NSW Government
under the Permit/Plug/Play Pilot Program.
“Council welcomes the funding support from the State Government, which helps us enliven the city's street-based event scene,” Ms Parker said.
“The funding program aims to promote vibrant local communities through delivery of free, recurring street-based events, such as Festival of W.” Festival of W runs from 10am to 10pm daily from Saturday 5 July to Sunday 20 July 2025.
Ice-skating tickets are now on sale and are selling fast.
For further details about the festival, head to visitwagga.com/fow
Council adopts key plans for building a vibrant, growing and sustainable community
Wagga Wagga City Council this week adopted its Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) suite of documents, including an overall budget of $277.1 million for the 2025/26 financial year.
Council’s total operating expenditure budget for the next financial year is $163.9 million, with an additional capital expenditure program of $113.2 million. Included in the IP&R suite, adopted on 23 June, are Council’s Delivery Program 2025/2029 and Operational Plan 2025/26, Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) 2025/26, and Fees and Charges 2025/26.
Deputy Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Georgie Davies said these documents are designed to turn community priorities, identified through the Wagga Wagga 2050 - Community Strategic Plan, into real action.
“These are our plans to deliver services and projects to make Wagga Wagga and its surrounding villages vibrant, growing and sustainable,” Cr Davies said.
“We will continue to focus on renewing and replacing ageing facilities, roads and drainage as well as constructing new assets in our suburbs.
“Council will also continue to fight for long term tenure at the Wagga Airport and maintain our strong advocacy to ensure housing supply keeps pace with Wagga Wagga’s current and projected growth.”
Council has forecast a balanced budget for 2025/26.
Among the significant one-off capital works projects are the Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct, Southern Growth Area - Plumpton Road Project, Northern Growth Area – Sewer Upgrades, Active Travel (continuation of stages 1 to 3), Levee System Upgrade - North Wagga (early planning and investigation), Gregadoo Waste Management Centre Upgrades, and the Oasis Energy Efficiency Upgrade.
The $53.9 million allocation for roads includes one-off projects and recurrent program such as works on the Gregadoo Road and Pine Gully Road corridors, the Pavement Rehabilitation Program, and the Reseal Program – Renewal.
The 2025/26 budget also includes about $2.5 million in contributions, grants and donations provided by Council to the community.
WIDEN YOUR REACH: Owner of Bar Olivette Nick King is encouraging businesses to sign up to the 2025-26 Wagga Wagga Tourism Partner Program, launched this week. Image courtesy of Anna Kucera
Tourism Partner Program celebrates 10 years of regional collaboration
Council is proud to launch the 2025-26 Wagga Wagga Tourism Partner Program, marking a decade of collaboration with tourism businesses to grow the region’s visitor economy and strengthen our reputation as a leading destination.
Celebrating its 10th year, the program continues to evolve, providing valuable marketing exposure, business support and partnership opportunities for a wide range of tourism businesses, including accommodation providers, cafes and restaurants, farm gates, tour operators, attractions and retailers.
Applications to join the Wagga Wagga Tourism Partner Program for 2025-26
Community
officially opened on Wednesday 25 June 2025.
Council’s Visitor Economy Development Officer Cassandra Farquharson said the 10-year milestone is a moment to celebrate the growth and resilience of the region’s tourism industry.
“The program began in 2016 with a vision to bring our tourism industry together,” Ms Farquharson said. “Ten years on, we’ve built something incredibly strong.
“Through economic challenges, a pandemic, and the rapidly shifting tourism landscape, our local industry has shown amazing creativity and resilience.
“This program has helped businesses
HAVE YOUR SAY: The community has the chance to give their feedback on proposed new fees and charges, which include fees for booking the new lighting at Norman Duck Oval at San Isidore.
Proposed new fees and charges open for community feedback
Council is encouraging residents to give their input on proposed new fees for the sportsground lighting at Norman Duck Oval in San Isidore, and a new fee for Council-led festival, event site fees and use of event infrastructure and resources.
At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 23 June, Council endorsed placing the proposed new fees on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 24 June 2025 to 22 July 2025, to allow for public submissions to be received.
Council recently upgraded the sportsground lighting at Norman Duck Oval, installing Cloud master lighting management units which control the four individual lighting towers around the oval.
The units allow for these lights to be booked through Council’s booking process, aligning with all other users of sportsground lighting.
The proposed fees - designed to cover the cost of installation and ongoing electricity and maintenance costsinclude four new fees for the lighting,
Wagga, 109 Baylis St. Legally Blonde Jr. –The Musical SAT 28 JUNE, 2PM & 7:30PM & SUN 29 JUNE, 12PM CSU Riverina Playhouse Theatre, 8 Cross St. Fresh Ears ft. Eurogliders SUN 29 JUNE, 11AM – 12:30PM Wagga Wagga City Library, Baylis St. Roller Discos
SUN 29 JUNE, 2PM – 4PM Bolton Park Stadium, Morgan St. Native Candle Making Workshop SUN 29 JUNE, 2PM – 4PM Little Black Duck Studio, Uranquinty. Smuggler’s Compass – Spain
SUN 29 JUNE, 5PM – 10PM
stay visible, connected and supported.”
What started with just 51 members has grown into a vibrant regional network of visitor economy businesses and organisations, with more than 150 businesses and eight neighbouring councils participating in 2024-25.
Nick King, owner of Bar Olivette, expressed that being part of the Tourism Partner Program has produced many benefits for his business.
“It helps us connect with like-minded businesses, reach more visitors, and showcase our unique speakeasy experience as part of Wagga’s vibrant hospitality scene,” Mr King said.
“The program’s marketing, events, and workshops give us valuable exposure and support, helping us contribute to and benefit from the region’s growing visitor economy.”
Alexandra Mack, owner of local clothing boutique Ted & Olive which has been a Tourism Partner for many years, said: “It has allowed us to widen our reach while standing alongside some fabulous local businesses that showcase Wagga Wagga as a must-see tourism destination”.
Council is encouraging past members to renew and welcomes new businesses who want to connect with visitors to be a part of the region’s growing tourism success story.
Participants must be located in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area (LGA) or within 120km of the LGA boundary and offer a product or service relevant to visitors.
To find out more or join the 2025-26 Wagga Wagga Tourism Partner Program, visit visitwagga.com/partners or contact the Visitor Economy team on 1300 292 442.
with an hourly fee for each of the towers. This means oval users can pay to hire some or all of the lights at the same time.
The proposed new fee category for Council-led festival and event site fees includes the use of Council-owned event infrastructure and resources, such as food trailers and generators, and is designed to reflect the operational costs associated with providing, transporting, maintaining, and supporting these resources.
The proposed fees relate in part to new food trailers acquired through funding Council received through Transport for NSW’s Permit/Plug/Play Pilot Program, which are intended to support activation of public spaces and enhance the vibrancy of Council-led events.
The fee range of $0-$550 is designed to allow flexibility depending on the type of infrastructure provided and the nature of the event.
Public submissions on the proposed new fees and charges will be open until Tuesday 22 July 2025.
Following the public exhibition period, Council will receive a full report addressing any submission made in respect of the proposed new fees.
For information and to make a submission, visit haveyoursay.wagga. nsw.gov.au/proposed-new-fees-andcharges-2025-26
Bar Olivette, 24 Fitzmaurice St. A Midsummer Night’s Dream TUE 1 – THU 3 JULY, VARIOUS TIMES
CSU Riverina Playhouse Theatre, 8 Cross St. Riverina Producers Market THU 3 JULY, 1PM – 6:30PM Wagga Wagga Showground, Bourke St. Hamish Tait Piano Solo THU 3 JULY, 1PM – 2PM Riverina Conservatorium of Music, 1 Simmons St. Infusion Games Trivia & Karaoke THU 3 JULY, 8:30PM Victoria Hotel, 55 Baylis St. Scan or head to visitwagga.com for more events in Wagga Wagga + Surrounds.
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