Thursday, 4 June 2026

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria) (10:36): I rise to give a shout-out to one of the great winter events of our Victorian regional calendar, the National Celtic Folk Festival in the beautiful township of Portarlington. If you are looking for an excuse to get out of Melbourne this long weekend, this is it. Grab your beanie and your coat and head down to the Bellarine to enjoy incredible live music, dancing, storytelling, workshops, food, markets and plenty of activities for the kids. There is really something for everyone. What I love most about this festival is the atmosphere. The whole town comes alive, with local cafes, traders, accommodation providers and businesses all benefiting from the thousands of visitors who make the trip each year. And the best part – you can actually jump on a ferry from Melbourne. A huge congratulations to Una McAlinden and all the volunteers and local businesses involved in bringing this wonderful event to life once again. Events like this are so important for our regional communities, and the National Celtic Folk Festival continues to showcase the very best of the Bellarine.