Image Credit: Ash + Elm Studios

The book closes on Clunes Booktown’s 20th year

It was a beautiful bookend to a storied 20 years - but the beloved Booktown series is to be continued in 2027!

Clunes Booktown has closed the curtains on its 20th anniversary festival, and the weekend proved as unforgettable as the stories on its shelves. Thousands of book lovers descended on the historic gold town to wander among a sea of book stalls, savour live music and street performances, engage in workshops, and get delightfully lost in the iconic hay bale maze.

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Tickets to author talks and workshops disappeared almost as quickly as they were released. Sessions ranged from crime fiction and romance to First Nations storytelling, climate conversations, and queer rights discussions. Many events sold out entirely, including the conversation with environmental activist Bob Brown, highlighting both the calibre of the authors and the appetite of Booktown’s devoted audience.

Swapping words for numbers, the festival featured a record 150 booksellers, 19 talks and panel discussions, six workshops, and 11 bands. A roving cast of 70 performers included talents from the Ballarat Centre of Music and The Art, Phoenix Academy of the Arts, The Hopefuls from Bonkel Theatre, and The Funky Lizards. Eleven Kids Village sessions kept the next generation of readers thoroughly entertained, ensuring the festival’s magic reached all ages.

“Twenty years ago, a small group of people had this wild idea that books could save a town. And they were right. To see thousands of people pour into Clunes for a weekend of stories, ideas and connection — it never gets old. This anniversary felt genuinely special, and I think everyone who was here felt that,” says Festival Creative Director Suzi Cordell.

The weekend also delivered tangible benefits to the region. More than $30,000 was directly reinvested into the Clunes community, local accommodation was fully booked, and small businesses thrived. Support came from nine community groups, 15 food vendors, and 14 makers market stallholders.

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of more than 200 volunteers, whose time, energy, and good humour carried the festival from start to finish. “Our volunteers are the heartbeat of this festival. More than 200 people gave up their weekend to make sure every visitor had a wonderful experience — from the moment they arrived to the moment they left, arms full of books. We honestly couldn’t do any of this without them,” Cordell says.

Planning is already underway for 2027, with Clunes Booktown scheduled for the weekend of 20–21 March 2027.

Those who want to stay connected and support the festival can become a Friend of Booktown here.