Wardell River Festival returns with Hussy Hicks for a celebration of River Life
Wardell | Saturday 17 October 2026
The Wardell River Festival returns on Saturday 17 October for a full day of live music, food, art, river activities and community celebration beside the Richmond River.
This year’s theme, River Life, is a celebration of life by the river — the communities that have grown around it and the living river system that supports our region.
Lismore band Hussy Hicks will headline the festival, joining a full afternoon and evening of free live blues, rock and folk music, including inspiring local youth performances .
Wardell Neighbourhood Centre coordinator Joel Orchard said it was great to see the community festival reach another milestone, and that getting it to this point was an extraordinary effort by the volunteers and supporters behind the Wardell Neighbourhood Centre.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have such a committed group of volunteers and supporters who keep stepping up to make it happen.”
“This year we’re really pleased to be part of Richmond RiverFest 2026, which brings together events and communities from across the catchment to celebrate the rivers, cultures and communities of the Northern Rivers,” Mr Orchard said.
The partnership connects Wardell’s festival with events happening across the Richmond catchment and a broader conversation about river health, culture, restoration and community action.
Wardell River Festival invites the community to be a part of it.
Alongside the music, there will be plenty for people to take part in, including the 'River Life' art competition, cooking contest, fancy-dress competition and fishing comp - as well as workshops, youth activities, food stalls and community displays.
Activities on and around the river include a social paddle on the Richmond, kayak hire and a sunset river cruise. The event aims to bring community groups, river safety organisations, and river restoration advocates into the festival, giving people a chance to learn more about the Richmond and the work happening across the catchment to care for it.
Later in the day, community-made lanterns will form the River Life Lantern Parade, with designs inspired by the landscapes of the Richmond River.
The Wardell River Festival is made possible through the support of Ballina Shire Council’s Festival and Event Funding Program, together with the generous support of local businesses, community groups, volunteers and festival partners.
EVENT DETAILS
Wardell River Festival 2026
Saturday 17 October 2026
Wardell, NSW
From 12 noon into the evening
Free community event
Media enquiries:
Joel Orchard
President, Wardell CORE Inc.
Wardell Neighbourhood Centre
wardellcore@gmail.com
FEATURING:
Headline performance by Hussy Hicks
Free live music and entertainment
Youth performance showcase
River Life Art Competition
River Fest Cooking Contest
River Style fashion and dress-up
Gone Fishing Day competition
Lantern making and creative activities
River engagement activities
Food and community stalls
River Life Lantern Parade
Wardell River Festival Fishing Competition
Get out on the river and show us your catch! Our fishing competition runs from Sunday 4 October until 12 noon on Saturday 17 October, with fishing across the Richmond River catchment.
We have over $1,000 worth of rod and reel packages and fishing prizes to give away, with prizes for adults and juniors, plus most fish caught and submitted and a fun best fishing photo prize.
Register before you fish to receive your Catch ID, then photograph and submit your catches. Catch and release is encouraged, with winners announced during the Wardell River Festival.
Our competition is part of Gone Fishing Weekend, proudly supported by NSW DPIRD with funding from the Recreational Fishing Trusts, as part of the ‘Fish for life – Building a healthy fishing future’ initiative.
Register and read the competition rules below.
Best photo entry
A fun extra prize for a memorable fishing photo! Share a great river moment, a proud catch or the joy of fishing with family and friends. Photos will be judged on creativity and capturing the spirit of the competition, rather than fish size. Include your Catch ID with your submission. This photo can be separate from your catch measurement photo.
Tag us and share #wardellriverfestival @wardellneighbourhoodcentre
The Community Art Competition invites people of all ages and skill levels to creatively interpret this year’s theme:
“RIVER LIFE”
Artists are encouraged to reflect on the communities that have grown around Richmond River and the living river system that supports our region.. Works can be painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture or photography.
Categories
1. Open Section (ages 16+)
2. Junior Section (ages 15 and under)
Each section will award:
🥇 First Prize
🥈 Second Prize
🌟 People’s Choice Award (combined across both sections)
Key Dates
Entries Close: Thursday 15 Oct 2026
Drop-off Location:
Wardell Neighbourhood Centre, 3 Sinclair Street
Exhibition: Saturday 17 Oct at the Wardell River Festival
Winners Announced:
During the festival afternoon program
Categories
1. Cake
2. Baked goods
3. Junior Section (ages 15 and under)
Each section will award:
🥇 First Prize
🥈 Second Prize
Winners Announced:
During the festival afternoon program
Entry Details
Entry is free.
all entries must be clearly labelled with name, age (for Junior), ingredients and brief description.
all entries not collected at the completion of the event will be discarded.
A maximum of 2x entries per personal will be accepted
CAKE AND BAKE CONTEST
Judging Criteria
Taste and originality
Presentation and creativity
Local storytelling / community connection
Wardell River Festival 2025
The Wardell River Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration of community, culture, and creativity on the banks of the Richmond River. Featuring live music, art, food, markets, and kids’ activities - Join us for a joyful day in Wardell that brings our riverside regions together.
Wardell River Festival - Major Raffle
Tickets are just $5 each or 3 for $10
Buy your tickets from the Wardell Neighbourhood Centre and they will be available at the Wardell River Festival.
Tickets On Sale Now!
Support your local community Neighbourhood Centre AND go in the draw to win over $3,500 worth of amazing prizes!
Huge thanks to all our amazing supporters and sponsors tor this awesome prize pool.
Prizes Pool
Unique prospected gold nugget - Private Donor
6 Piece Iconix Cook Set - House
1 Night Stat for Two - Ramada
2x Entry + $250 Gift Shop Voucher - Crystal Castle
1 Night Stay for 2 and bottle of wine - Eltham Hotel
Family Pass - Currumbin Sanctuary
Astra Lumina Pass - Currumbin Sanctuary
Tahitian Pearl Silver Pendant - Nanihi Pearls
2 x 4 Games Voucher - Ballina Tenpin Bowling
Dining Voucher - Three Blue Ducks
1kg Collegen Powder - Go Vita
3 x $20 Voucher - Zarraffa’s Coffee
2 x Towel Sets - Pillow Talk
$50 Voucher - The Good Guys
Dining Voucher. - Ember Stakehouse Byron Bay
Golf Hat - King James
Breakfast for 2 - Saltbush Bar and Grill
Voucher - Swing It
Voucher - Evans Head Aviation Museum
Voucher - Dan Murphy’s
The Community Art Competition invites people of all ages and skill levels to creatively interpret this year’s theme:
“The Richmond River – Our Place”
Artists are encouraged to reflect on their connection to the river—its history, culture, environment, and community. Works can be painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture or photography.
Categories
1. Open Section (ages 16+)
2. Junior Section (ages 15 and under)
Each section will award:
🥇 First Prize
🥈 Second Prize
🌟 People’s Choice Award (combined across both sections)
Key Dates
Entries Close: Thursday 28 Aug 2025
Drop-off Location:
Wardell Neighbourhood Centre, 3 Sinclair Street
Exhibition: Saturday 26 July at the Wardell River Festival
Winners Announced:
During the festival afternoon program
Live Music
YOUTH BANDS
BELLA FRANKIE
RIVER DRIVE
BRIGHT VIOLET
Kids Activities
Screen Printing :
Workshop activity with local artist Jude White at Wardell CORE. We will be creating artworks featuring designs from our Wardell Youth Project. Come along between 1 and 4 pm
Lantern Making :
Make your own lantern
Face Painting :
Weed wise :
A creative look at our riverine environment with Rous Water
Sunshine Sugar Cooking Competition
Judging Criteria
Use of Sugar products
Taste and originality
Presentation and creativity
Local storytelling / community connection
Judges will be selected from the sugar industry and community sectors.
Categories
1. Sweet
2. Savory
3. Junior Section (ages 15 and under)
Each section will award:
🥇 First Prize
🥈 Second Prize
Winners Announced:
During the festival afternoon program
Entry Details
Entry is free.
all entries must be clearly labelled with name, age (for Junior), ingredients and brief description.
all entries not collected at the completion of the event will be discarded.
A maximum of 2x entries per personal will be accepted
Riverside Rummage
Clear out, cash in, or trove for a bargain!
Join us for Riverside Rummage – Wardell’s ultimate community garage sale by the river!
Pre-loved treasures
Handmade crafts & plants
Clothes, books, tools, toys & more!
A relaxed, feel-good afternoon of browsing, bargain hunting, and community spirit.
Wardell River Festival
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Free entry | Stallholders welcome (registration required)
Bring a table, a tarp or just yourself and get ready for a riverside rummage adventure!
Register now to book your stall.
Food and Drinks
Wood Fire Pizza by Wardell CORE
Food Trucks
Ice cream and soft serve
Coffee cart
Wardell River Festival 2024
On behalf of Wardell CORE we would like to thank the Wardell community and extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for the involvement and investment in the Wardell River Festival to all our partners, supporters, volunteers and participants. Your support contributed immensely to the success of this event, and we cannot thank you enough for your generosity.
The Wardell River Festival was a resounding success, with approximately 450 punters visiting throughout the afternoon. The kayaking adventure, which allowed over 30 participants to experience the beauty of the Richmond River and Bingal Creek wetlands, was particularly well-received. Additionally, 60 community members had the pleasure of enjoying a sunset river cruise along the Richmond River, further enhancing the festival's appeal.
We are incredibly grateful for the invaluable contribution of the volunteers from the Ballina on Richmond Rotary Club and their supporters who worked tirelessly to make this day a memorable and enjoyable experience for all attendees. Their partnership has been instrumental in the success of this event, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to collaborate with this great team for next years event.
Looking ahead, we are excited to begin planning for next year's festival and welcome your involvement. Together, we can work towards making the Wardell River Festival even bigger and better, creating lasting memories and strengthening our community bonds.
If you would like to be involved in planning, preparing and running this community event, please get in touch :
contact Joel Orchard - Project lead
wardellcore@gmail.com or 0424 73 8899
