Djerriwarrh Festival: The City We Create

We visit Melton’s biggest event of the year for a day filled with fun activities and community spirit!

April 17, 2025

The Djerriwarrh Festival is the largest community event in Melton and has been running successfully for decades. On the 23rd of November 2024, the festival had its 42nd run with the theme ‘The City We Create in recognition of the shared sense of community binding us together’. We attended the event to ask the people of Melton how they connect to this theme, and what it is that they love about the festival and their community.

The festival took place in the heart of Melton, where roads were blocked off to accommodate for all the events and activities taking place. Families came down to watch the festival kick off with the beloved Street Parade. Local groups, schools, services, and sporting clubs made their way along High Street with cheers and waves from the crowd, a heart warming display of community spirit.

For some fun, the festival had a number of great activities and performances planned. Local artists, bands, and cultural groups took to the stage to keep us entertained throughout the day. By the main stage were a range of carnival rides as well as a line of food trucks - a great place to stop for lunch and support local businesses. Some of the highlights for us were the goodie bags we received from the Melton Library, the family-friendly games held by our local sporting clubs, and the display of friendly dogs run by Melton’s Dog Club.

It was inspiring to see the diverse range of stalls and vendors that have been running for consecutive years, and who continue to come to the festival to promote their work each year. When we spoke with a number of the community groups and stallholders about their favourite part of living or working in Melton, a common theme we found was the sense of community. Many of the locals have lived in the area for a long time and have developed a strong connection to their peers.

The Djerriwarrh Festival has definitely become a long-running tradition and a highly anticipated event. It’s a great way for members of the community to connect, collaborate, and just as importantly, have fun in this city we create!

To see what other local events are coming up, you can check out the Melton City Council’s Events Calendar.

Binusha is a passionate storyteller from Good News Melton, inspired about amplifying young voices, storytelling, and creating impactful, community-driven media.

The Djerriwarrh Festival is the largest community event in Melton and has been running successfully for decades. On the 23rd of November 2024, the festival had its 42nd run with the theme ‘The City We Create in recognition of the shared sense of community binding us together’. We attended the event to ask the people of Melton how they connect to this theme, and what it is that they love about the festival and their community.

The festival took place in the heart of Melton, where roads were blocked off to accommodate for all the events and activities taking place. Families came down to watch the festival kick off with the beloved Street Parade. Local groups, schools, services, and sporting clubs made their way along High Street with cheers and waves from the crowd, a heart warming display of community spirit.

For some fun, the festival had a number of great activities and performances planned. Local artists, bands, and cultural groups took to the stage to keep us entertained throughout the day. By the main stage were a range of carnival rides as well as a line of food trucks - a great place to stop for lunch and support local businesses. Some of the highlights for us were the goodie bags we received from the Melton Library, the family-friendly games held by our local sporting clubs, and the display of friendly dogs run by Melton’s Dog Club.

It was inspiring to see the diverse range of stalls and vendors that have been running for consecutive years, and who continue to come to the festival to promote their work each year. When we spoke with a number of the community groups and stallholders about their favourite part of living or working in Melton, a common theme we found was the sense of community. Many of the locals have lived in the area for a long time and have developed a strong connection to their peers.

The Djerriwarrh Festival has definitely become a long-running tradition and a highly anticipated event. It’s a great way for members of the community to connect, collaborate, and just as importantly, have fun in this city we create!

To see what other local events are coming up, you can check out the Melton City Council’s Events Calendar.

Binusha Pathirana
is a journalist at Good News Melton. She ipsum ultricies aptent sollicitudin est congue. You can find her stories here.

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