THE Boambee East Community Centre’s free Winter Solstice family festival returns on Saturday 20 June 2026.
The festival, which celebrates the shortest day and longest night of the year, is now in its 10th year.
Throughout the past decade it has grown into a much-loved community event, bringing together local families, volunteers, community groups, and performers for a free celebration of connection, creativity, and community spirit.
The festival will run from 2:00pm until around 8:30pm on Duttons Estate, adjacent to the Community Centre, and is expected to attract more than 1800 people from across the Coffs Coast.
The festival was originally established to create a free community celebration that reduced social isolation and strengthened community connections, and today continues to provide a space where people can gather, belong and celebrate together.
“At a time when many families are doing it tough, we wanted to create an event that everyone can attend regardless of their circumstances,” Boambee East Community Centre Manager, Sue Butler, told News Of The Area.
Visitors can enjoy a diverse program of entertainment and activities throughout the day, including live music from local performers, Boambee Public School Choir, cultural performances, fire twirling, lantern-making, community stalls, food vendors, children’s activities, a reptile display, a jumping castle, traditional performances, and interactive workshops.
A particular highlight for children and young people will be the Silent Disco, put on by Blue Sky Community Services.
Another highlight of the evening will be the Lantern Parade, featuring many of the giant lanterns created by local residents and students from Crossmaglen Public School during school-based activities, and those crafted during community workshops led by local artist Jeremy Sheehan in the lead-up to the festival.
The parade will lead into the lighting of the bonfire, supervised by local Rural Fire Service volunteers, creating a magical atmosphere as dusk falls and the community gathers to celebrate the longest night of the year.
The festival will also feature a Welcome to Country, a cultural performance by Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation (BMNAC) and later in the afternoon All Nesian Whānau will perform cultural dances, recognising and celebrating the rich Aboriginal heritage of the region.
Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs, settle in for the afternoon, and enjoy an event that showcases the creativity, generosity and spirit of the local community.
By Andrea FERRARI
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
