When?
Friday May 1 – Monday May 4.
Where?
Completely off the grid, this festival is held in Victoria’s only privately owned and off the grid town, Licola. You’ll find this breath of fresh air of a location in the beautiful valley along the Macalister River.
Who?
The lineup is yet to be announced, stay tuned!
The history
Previously, the main stages have been a town hall, haunted house and a train station (this year it’s a sustainable power plant). Past acts have included Dub Fx, Tash Sultana, Funk Hunters, JFB, and Spoonbill. Last year, we also had a play of Dr Seuss’ The Lorax on stage.
Make sure you bring
Punters are encouraged to bring dress-ups and costumes to really get into character at The Town. Although, there’s absolutely no pressure, so don’t feel like you need to come as a politician, fire fighter or mailman – it’s all just about having fun. Plus, there’ll be an op shop run by party grandmas to help you get decked out.
You’re also encouraged to bring your own mailbox to really set up home in your suburb for the weekend, whether you’re residing in Funky Town, Hipster City, Vanland and Pleasantville.
If you’re so inclined, don’t forget to pack some drinks as the event is BYO, with sustainable and mindful consumption encouraged. And lastly, don’t forget to pack plenty of sunscreen, a hat, an open mind and a fun, Earth-loving attitude.
Sustainability
The Town encourages sustainability by creating a culture of connection over consumption through not selling any disposable products, producing as close to zero waste as possible, and fostering personal responsibility. The Town aims to explore what makes an ideal town and sustainability is a vital part of this, along with showing respect for the beautiful land, its fresh waterways and surrounding nature.
All our food and drink stalls will be using reusable crockery or compostable items. Be a Town pro and bring a plate, cup and crockery and wash up at the wash stations. We also ask that you don’t bring disposable rubbish, plastics or excessive alcohol such as kegs and multiple bottles or slabs.
Also, to avoid putting pressure on the site, we need your help with carpooling and camping humbly. Packing light means partying smart and in a way where less is more!
Every year the campgrounds are left spotless and we only process an incredibly small amount of waste – we’re proud of this and ask for your help in doing it again this year.
The vibe
The Town is arguably one of Australia’s most unique festivals. It’s basically a giant playground that parodies society in the funnest possible way, with live bands and a campground. We’re talking a mock village with streets and mailboxes throughout the campsite, a public transport bike system, a church to get fake married in, a court to sue your friends, and a ‘90s themed prom in the gymnasium.
Each of the small houses onsite are converted into fake storefronts that take on the format of escape rooms, immersive theatre spaces and themed chill out spaces. An example of this is Cafe Experientia, a theatre restaurant that serves experiences instead of food, including awkward entrees such as ‘prolonged eye contact’. We also have a Town Newspaper full of hilarious articles to keep you informed and entertained.
Each year has a theme and in 2020 it’s power, exploring both sustainable power and corrupt power, with hilarious town elections happening on the Saturday (who will hold the power at the end?). And speaking of power, you won’t need to charge your phones overnight as The Town has no mobile reception, allowing punters to escape their reliance on technology and connect in a more human way.
The festival is also family-friendly, meaning you can bring the whole gang along for the parody ride.
Tickets
Tickets for The Town 2020 are now on sale via the festival website.
Check out what The Town is all about at culturejam.com.au.
