Milbi Must Do Events
Milbi Must Do Events - Our Top Picks for Families
Milbi Festival 2019 activities and events
The Bundaberg Milbi Festival gets underway on 15 November and will run for 10 days a various locations across the region.
We've had a look at the program of events and have chosen our top picks for families!
What is the Milbi Festival?
The Milbi Festival is the Bundaberg region's newest arts andculture festival which will mark the beginning of our famous turtle season. The Festival is a 10-day program of events being organised by Bundaberg Regional Council with the support of local community groups, artists and individuals.
Turtles, arts, culture and Indigenous heritage are the foundation pillars for the festival that will celebrate our unique Bundaberg region.
From Gin Gin to Childers through to Bundaberg and our regional ocean shores, all areas of the region will be activated with the delivery of unique events, workshops, exhibitions, film screenings and performances.
Our Top Picks - Milbi Festival
Tuesday, 12 November 2019
pre-festival event
Welcome the Turtles – Milbi Festival 2019
- 5.30pm – 8.30pm
- Cost Free
- Location Bargara Foreshore Boardwalk, 57 Esplanade Bargara
Welcome the turtles at Bargara Beach. Join the crowd for a traditional welcome as the super full moon rises and join a musical call to the ocean to these beautiful animals which return to our shores every year. This is a pre-festival event.
Friday, 15 November 2019
bandabara Concert – Milbi Festival 2019
- 6.45pm – 7.45pm
- Cost $10 per ticket. Book Now
- Location Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, 177 Bourbong Street Bundaberg
The journey of a new-born turtle is much like our own. Survival is the key to begin with – to reach our potential, we have to find the courage to make that journey. Join hundreds of school students and award-winning Brisbane ensemble Topology who take you on this immersive journey through music. bandabara is the ‘special place of the Taribelang people’. It is this place we sing on together. This place we all call home. This concert includes the world premiere of new choral compositions by Andrew Howes and local composers John Rotar and Lukeaja Morrison, directed by Michelle Leonard OAM.
Saturday, 16 November 2019
Art Walk and Fun Day – Milbi Festival 2019
- 10am – 4pm
- Cost Free
- Location Jayteens Park, Fred Courtice Drive Bargara
A focus of the Milbi Festival, the Turtle Art Walk and Family Fun Day will include art activity stations from Crawford Park through to Jayteens Park. Make mosaic milbis at Crawford Park with Paul Perry and Julie Highlands and construct a turtle collage with found objects at the Basin on Kelly’s Beach. Create a recycled Jellyfish with Beverley Whip on the Bargara Beach Boardwalk and make unique ceramic and woven objects with Kathy Valks at the Rotunda along Bargara’s Esplanade. Then check out the main stage and live musos at the end of the footpath at Jayteens Park where there will be sand sculpture workshops, live bands and other free fun family activities.
Sunday, 17 November 2019
Ergon Energy Cavern of Wonder – Milbi Festival 2019
OPEN FOR SIX DAYS!
- Dates 17th November 2019 – 22nd November 2019;
- Times 11am, - 3pm (Sunday & Friday); 11am - 6pm (Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs)
- Cost $2 entry
- Location Sugarland Tavern, 52 Johnston Street Avoca
The Ergon Energy “Cavern of Wonder” transforms an unlikely space into a virtual underwater world through the use of illuminated sculpture, projections and digital installations. Local professional artists have been engaged to facilitate workshops with community groups to collaborate on ideas to bring the space to life through creativity. The installation is inspired by Bundaberg’s position as the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and invites exploration from all ages.
Cultural Tours – Milbi Festival 2019
- Date 17th November 2019; 10:30am; 11:30am & 1pm
- Cost $15 per ticket
- What to Bring: Your ticket, comfortable walking shoes, hats, water and sunscreen.
- Location Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, 1 Barolin Street Bundaberg
Join artists and gallery staff for an interactive day in the Gallery and BRAG Park in Barolin Street. There will be activities for all ages.
CBD Taribelang Language Tours with Byron Broome
The Taribelang people have lived on this country for thousands of generations. When English surveyor John Thompson and his assistant AD Edwards came to the area in 1868, they were fascinated by Taribelang language and incorporated many of the sounds they heard into the CBD street names. Byron Broome, a Taribelang man, takes us on a tour to point out what those words are and what they mean. Ever wondered about the origin of Bourbong, Barolin or Woongarra? In this International Year of Indigenous Languages, now’s the time to find out. Book your tickets here.
Creative Regions Story Walks
Fire, murder and even rogue cows. Take a stroll with Bundy Story Walks and learn about some of the quirkier sides of Bundaberg and finish with a locally made Gelato from Alowishus. Book your tickets here.
History Tours with Angela Lathouras
Angela Lathouras’s family have been in Bundaberg for 99 years and her passion for history is intense. Walk with her into our past and relive the stories that are uniquely Bundaberg. Book your tickets here.
Tradelines Exhibition Open Day – Milbi Festival 2019
- Time 10am – 2pm
- Cost Free
- Location Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, 1 Barolin Street Bundaberg
See the Tradelines Exhibition at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. The open day will feature a Traditional Welcome with Elder Uncle Willy Broome, Dancers by Byron Broome, Yarning Circle led by Selina Hill and Weaving Workshop with Dr. Pamela Croft, Francis Blair and Karen Pearse.
Friday, 22 November 2019
Creature Feature & Plant Smart at Botancial Gardens – Milbi Festival 2019
- Session times are: 3.40pm to 4.20pm & 4.30pm to 5.10pm.
- Cost: Free
- Bookings are essential. (Reserve your seat by 9am Friday, 22 November.): Book Now.
- Location: Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, 6 Mt Perry Road Bundaberg North
Take an informative and fun hot lap around Agnes Lagoon in the beautiful Bundaberg Botanic Gardens with natural areas officer Sally and botanist extraordinaire Cody as they thrill and inform you. Hear anecdotes about life cycles, conservation, breeding and diet. Become intrigued as the landscape around you unfolds in story and explanations. You are guaranteed to learn at least three new things about turtles and your Botanic Gardens after this tour.
Pop Up Pictures in the Park – Milbi Festival 2019
- Date 22nd November 2019 at 5:30pm to 10pm
- Cost Free
- Location Behind Fairymead House, Thornill Street Bundaberg North. (Large lawn area)
- 6.00pm – Finding Nemo
- 8.00pm – TMNT Out of the Shadows
The Botanic Gardens will sparkle with the stars of a different kind when we erect the silver screen for an incredible night of free movies to be enjoyed in our enviable outdoor climate. Families are invited to join Squirt and Crush as they are Finding Nemo in the late afternoon. After intermission, it’s the gown ups turn to relax and unwind with the scifi action comedy, true to festival theme: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. BYO low hung chair, blanket, cushions. A small number of beanbags will be provided (first in first serve). Pack your snacks or take advantage of the delicious offerings by Cafe 1928, open later for your convenience, click here for 1928’s menu.
Saturday, 23 November 2019
Rendezvous at the Zoo – Milbi Festival 2019
- Date 23rd November 2019 at 7am -12noon
- Cost Breakfast: Adults- $15; Children U/14 – $10; Activities: Free
- Breakfast bookings: SOLD OUT.
- Location Alexandra Park, Quay Street Bundaberg
Breakfast (7.00am to 8.00am) (SOLD OUT)
Whilst munching down on delictable locally sourced breaky treats, our zoo keeper will introduce a variety of species and present informative anecdotes about the creatures in their care. The event showcases the newly acquired freshwater turtles and purpose built habitat. Bookings are essential. (Reserve your seat by 9.00am Thursday, 21 November.) Guests will also have a special opportunity after breakfast to tour the zoo with the zookeeper before it opens to the public.
Zoo inspired activities in the Park (8.30am – 12.00pm)
Under the shade of the sprawling fig trees, visitors to the park will enjoy a variety of activity stations including listening to stories about animals, making their own story books and engaging with the zoo through a self-guided activity book.
Small Fry DISCO – Milbi Festival 2019
- Time 10.30am - 12noon
- Cost $5pp (including adults)
- Ages 6years and under
- BOOKINGS ONLINE – NO TIX AT THE DOOR – GET TICKETS HERE
- Location Sugarland Tavern, 52 Johnston Street, Bundaberg
The old nightclub at Sugarland Tavern has been converted into an amazing space using sculptures of sea creatures and very cool lighting. The Small Fry Disco is for the tiniest boppers in our community only. If you are six years old or under – you are ‘small fry’ and invited to dance with mermaids under the disco lights. Wear white or fluro and you will glow in the dark. Dress to the theme ‘under the sea’ if you like. Small Fry MUST be accompanied by a supervising ADULT. ALL tickets (including adults) $5. No food or drink to be brought on site.
Cultural Celebration - Experience Pacific Island Life!
- Time: 2pm to 7pm
- Cost: Free entry
- Where: Civic Centre and Buss Park, Bourbong Street, Bundaberg
Walk through the Village and experience life in the Pacific Islands. Multicultural groups from the Bundaberg region are coming together to celebrate and share their culture with the community.
- Interactive Market Place
- Arts and crafts on display and for sale
- Weaving
- Bilum bag making
- Face painting
- Island food for purchase
- Cultural performances
Entertainment, demonstrations and displays from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Niue, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, New Zealand and Australia will be held at the event.
Twilight Artisan and Handmade Market – Milbi Festival 2019
- Time: 4pm - 7pm
- Cost: Free entry
- Location: Post Office Lane, off Baroin Stret (behind the Bundaberg Post Office).
The Twilight Artisan and Handmade Market will kick off in Post Office Lane! Featuring designers, artists and makers from the region and beyond, as well as curated selection of food trucks/stalls. The market will lead visitors out of the gallery to explore one of Bundaberg’s often unexplored laneways. Continue your twilight market experience by also visiting the Cultural Celebration happening in Buss Park on Bourbong Street.