Hepburn Pizza Night
Hepburn Pizza Night
Join us for a relaxed evening of traditional Swiss Italian pizza, good company and community spirit as we come together in the lead-up to the 2026 Swiss Italian Festa.
Enjoy a taste of our local heritage while helping support the Festa, with proceeds from the evening going directly towards this year’s celebrations.
Wednesday 30 September 2026 · 6:30pm
$50 per person
Come hungry, bring your friends and help us keep the traditions — and the Festa — alive.
Call Hepburn Pizza to book your seats. 0468-916-683
Swiss Italian Festa Landscape Prize
Swiss Italian Festa Landscape Art Prize 2026
Celebrating the beauty of the Central Highlands through the eyes of our local artists, the Swiss Italian Festa Landscape Art Prize returns to Hepburn Springs this October.
The exhibition brings together works from artists across the Central Highlands, with painting, drawing, etching, sculpture, photography and digital art all represented.
With $1,500 in prizes, including the $1,000 Petrus Spronk Prize and $500 People’s Choice Award, visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibition and vote for their favourite work.
📍 Radius Gallery, 76 Main Road, Hepburn Springs.
📅 16–25 October 2026
🕙 Friday, Saturday & Sunday | 10am–4pm
🥂 Opening Night & Prize Announcement | Friday 16 October, 5.30–7.30pm
Artists wishing to enter: Entries close Friday 2 October at 5pm. Entry fee is $25, with one artwork permitted per artist.
Click here to download the information and rules for the exhibiting artists
Heritage Dinner
Begin the 2026 Swiss Italian Festa with a special evening celebrating the people, stories, food and traditions that shaped Hepburn Springs.
Held at the historic Swiss Mountain Hotel, the Heritage Dinner brings our community together to honour the Italian-speaking Swiss settlers whose journey to the region began more than 170 years ago — and whose influence remains part of Hepburn’s identity today.
Enjoy an evening of good food, conversation and shared history as we celebrate the generations who came before us and the remarkable Swiss Italian heritage that continues to live on.
Thursday 22 October 2026
Swiss Mountain Hotel, Hepburn Springs
Further details, menu and booking information coming soon.
Festa Launch
Mineral Springs Hotel, Hepburn Springs
The weekend begins here.
Join us at the Mineral Springs Hotel as we officially launch the 2026 Swiss Italian Festa and raise a glass to a weekend celebrating the heritage, culture and community that helped shape Hepburn Springs.
The Official Festa Launch brings locals, visitors, supporters and friends of the Festa together to mark the beginning of three days of Swiss Italian food, wine, music, history and celebration throughout Hepburn Springs.
And the night doesn’t end there.
Following the launch, continue the celebrations at the Hepburn Palais, where the Bella Ciao Band will take to the stage for an evening of lively Italian music and entertainment.
Friday 23 October 2026
6:00pm–7:30pm
Mineral Springs Hotel, Hepburn Springs
Further details about the Official Festa Launch and the evening’s celebrations will be announced soon.
Hepburn Palais - Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao Band at the Hepburn Palais
Friday 23 October 2026
Hepburn Palais, Hepburn Springs
Let the Festa Celebrations Begin!
Following the official Swiss Italian Festa Launch at the Mineral Springs Hotel, the celebrations continue just down the road at the Hepburn Palais with the Bella Ciao Band.
Get ready for a lively night of Italian-inspired music, energy and entertainment as Bella Ciao brings the sounds and spirit of Italy to Hepburn Springs.
It’s the perfect way to kick off the Festa weekend — gather your friends, enjoy the music and soak up the atmosphere as Hepburn Springs comes alive for three days of food, wine, heritage, culture and celebration.
Whether you have Swiss Italian heritage of your own or simply love great live music and a good night out, everyone is welcome to join the celebration.
Friday 23 October 2026
Hepburn Palais, Hepburn Springs
Performance times, ticket information and further details coming soon.
Swiss Italian Festa 2026
Swiss Italian Festa – Main Festa Day
Saturday 24 October 2026
Mineral Springs Reserve, Hepburn Springs
This Is the Festa!
Hepburn Springs comes alive on Saturday 24 October for the main event of the 2026 Swiss Italian Festa — a full day of food, music, culture, family and celebration at the beautiful Mineral Springs Reserve.
Celebrate the remarkable Swiss Italian heritage that helped shape our region while enjoying a packed program of live bands, music and entertainment, performances from our local schools, cultural activities and plenty for the whole family.
And come hungry.
The Reserve will be filled with food and drink from local businesses, community groups and visiting vendors, with pizza, gelato, coffee, Swiss Italian favourites and plenty more to enjoy throughout the day.
Help Us Make History
One of the highlights of the 2026 Festa will be an attempt to create a Tarantella world record, bringing the crowd together for one enormous celebration of traditional Italian dance.
Whether you know the steps or have never danced the Tarantella in your life, we want you involved. More details about how to participate will be released in the lead-up to the Festa.
From Daylight to Fireworks
Stay with us into the evening as the Festa continues with food, music and entertainment before the skies above Hepburn Springs light up with a spectacular fireworks display at 8:00pm.
Bring the family, gather your friends and make a weekend of it.
This isn't simply a celebration of where we've come from — it's about bringing our heritage to life and sharing it with the next generation.
Saturday 24 October 2026
Mineral Springs Reserve, Hepburn Springs
Food • Wine • Music • Culture • Family • Fireworks
Full entertainment program, vendor details, Tarantella world record information and event times coming soon.
Festa Around Hepburn
Festa Around Hepburn
Sunday 25 October 2026
Throughout Hepburn Springs
Eat. Drink. Explore. Celebrate.
The Swiss Italian Festa continues on Sunday as the celebration spreads throughout Hepburn Springs for Festa Around Hepburn.
Spend the day exploring the village as our local cafés, restaurants, pubs, shops, producers and businesses join the Festa, each offering their own special events, experiences, food, entertainment and Swiss Italian-inspired offerings.
It’s a chance to slow down, wander through Hepburn Springs, discover somewhere new and support the local businesses that help make our community so special.
Enjoy a long lunch, stop for a coffee or glass of wine, discover local produce, browse the shops or join one of the special activities taking place throughout the day.
After the excitement of Saturday’s main Festa at Mineral Springs Reserve, Sunday is about experiencing Hepburn Springs itself — its people, businesses, hospitality and community.
Stay for the weekend, take your time and experience another side of the Swiss Italian Festa.
Sunday 25 October 2026
Various locations throughout Hepburn Springs
Eat • Drink • Explore • Celebrate
Participating businesses, special events, opening times and the full Festa Around Hepburn program are currently being finalised. More details will be announced soon.
Villa Parma Garden Soirée & Festa Finale Aperitivo
Step into the timeless elegance of Villa Parma and wander through its Italian-inspired gardens, a lush celebration of history and beauty. Then, to see out Festa 2025 in relaxed style, join us on the front lawn of the Mineral Springs Hotel for the Festa Finale Aperitivo—an afternoon of Italian cocktails, prosecco, and antipasti snack plates at the Argus Bar’s extended happy hour (2–6pm). Sip, savour, and celebrate la dolce vita as the sun sets on another unforgettable Festa.
Yandoit Stone House Tour
Step Back in Time — Tour Yandoit’s Historic Stone Houses
Three generous Yandoit residents have opened the doors of their iconic stone houses for a special guided tour with Yandoit Cultural, as part of the Swiss Italian Festa.
Gold and Mineral Water Film Screening
Join us for a special screening of Gold and Mineral Water, a film by Michelangelo Gandolfi that beautifully captures the enduring legacy of the Swiss and Italian community in our region. Featuring stunning locations across Daylesford, Hepburn Springs and Yandoit, this documentary offers a moving reflection on history, heritage and connection to place.
Veneto Choir at St Peter’s Church
Experience the soaring harmonies and heartfelt passion of the Veneto Choir, performing live in the stunning surrounds of St Peter’s Catholic Church. Their rich voices will fill the church with warmth and spirit, creating a moment of reflection and celebration as part of the Swiss Italian Festa 2025.
Swiss Italian Landscape Art Prize Exhibition & Prize Presentation
The Swiss Italian Landscape Art Prize returns for 2025 — a much-loved tradition celebrating creativity, community, and the beauty of our region. This year, 28 talented artists will showcase works across painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, and textiles, each piece capturing the unique spirit and landscape of Hepburn Shire.
Carnevale Day
Celebrate the spirit of the Swiss Italian Festa at Carnevale Day in Hepburn Springs! Enjoy the lively street parade, live music, food and beverage stalls, arts and crafts, and kids’ activities throughout the day. As evening falls, marvel at the lantern parade and a spectacular fireworks finale. A joyful day of culture, community, and celebration!
Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm Open Days
Visit the iconic Lavandula lavender farm October 25 - 26 for live music all weekend, a special performance by an Italian choir on Sunday, and all the Festa favourites — wood-fired pizza, bullboar sausage sizzle, an Italian spritz bar, and our much-loved gelati cart.
Alice’s Journeys Walking Tour of Hepburn Springs
A very special and exclusive Swiss Italian Festa guided walking tour, Cammino di Hepburn, finishing with a private tour of The Old Macaroni Factory, where you will be nourished in the centuries old Italian style Aperitivo.
🇮🇹🇨🇭 Heritage Dinner at The Farmers Arms 🇨🇭🇮🇹
Join us for an enchanting evening celebrating the rich Italian and Swiss heritage of the Hepburn Shire. Enjoy a delicious two-course meal inspired by European flavours, paired with stories of culture and community.