What’s happening in September?

September brings a vibrant mix of stunning floral displays, awe-inspiring glimpses of whales on their annual migration, and an events calendar set to light up the South West.

With CinefestOZ in full swing, the region will quickly become one big art immersive exhibition when Margaret River Region Open Studios takes over. Sensational feasts await food and wine lovers with Yarri’s Japanese Dining Experience or Passel Estate’s Shiraz and Venison.

Read on for all the events waiting for you this September.

CinefestOZ Film Festival has kicked off, bigger and better than ever, combining cinema with the region’s best wineries, galleries, breweries and restaurants. 

Catch  world premieres with red-carpet events and after-parties, intimate in-conversations, and the screenings of the finalists for the prestigious CinefestOZ Film Prize.

Check out Deadly Day, showcasing Aboriginal filmmakers, the CinefestOZ Short Film Awards, plus free community screenings in Busselton, Margaret River and Augusta.

First things first. Start off the month celebrating the wonderful dads and special father figures in your life. Treat them to a hearty Fathers Day Roast at Bettanays or take them out for a fun evening of Musical Bingo at Origins Market. The latter might trigger a dad joke orthree –  you have been warned.

It’s tour o’clock at Beddy Rays HQ and they’re excited to hit the road and play some rip snorta rock shows across the country. Stopping at some of their favourite venues across the country, they’ll be cheersing beers with you lot quicker than you can say ‘giddy up’! Grab your tickets now to catch him live at The River.

Get ready for the South West Japan Festival, bringing families together to celebrate the art, culture, music, food and dance of Japan — through workshops, themed dinners and food events, tastings, performances, car shows and other activities. Level up your Japanese cooking skills at The Miso Experience: Beyond the Basics on 6 September or get blown away at Yarri’s Japanese Dining Experience on 12 September. The Busselton Jetty Sushi Train event on 13 September is a fun — and absolutely delicious — opportunity for the whole family to connect with Japanese culture aboard the beloved Busselton Jetty Train.

Meet 144 artists opening their galleries, sheds, and home studio doors. From painters to potters and printmakers, milliners to mosaicists, timber craftspeople to textile creators and illustrators to installation artists, Margaret River Region Open Studios brings them closer to you than ever before. Get to know the creators and purchase original works across 16 days of self-guided art exploration from north to south in the Margaret River Region. No matter how you approach Australia’s largest open studios event — with a detailed schedule led by the fantastic program or just going with the flow following the trail of signs at the side of the road, this is an annual highlight to look forward to.

Unleash your inner artist and paint a beautiful spring bouquet. Situated in one of Busselton’s oldest buildings, The Old Courthouse Complex, get ready to laugh, connect, and unwind as you immerse yourself in a relaxed, creative atmosphere. This event promises an afternoon filled with fun, spontaneity and the opportunity to create your very own masterpiece with the help of an expert teacher.

Wesley Black presents his debut national headline tour ‘Us against the world‘ for the release of ‘Kids’. Wesley and his band are hitting the road showcasing the searing lyrics, dynamic vocals and fierce, hard-hitting deliveries the prince of Perth has become known for. His high energy and crowd captivating live performances will be on show across Australia throughout September and you’ll get the chance to catch him live at Settlers Tavern.

Join a celebration of extraordinary food and wine at Smiths Beach Resort’s onsite restaurant, Lamont’s. Owner and renowned chef Kate Lamont AM is teaming up with a number of distinguished guests who will showcase the very best of local and international offerings throughout the second half of 2024. This month is bringing the much-anticipated launch of the Moss Wood Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, hosted by owners, the Mugford Family. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to taste this beautiful local wine in this Moss Wood Masterclass tasting alongside Lamont’s delicious nibbles.

Chances are Margaret River Region Open Studios will get your creative juices flowing, so this Cyanotype workshop might just be the perfect outlet. It’s an easy print making process which uses the exposure of sunlight to create bold white and Prussian Blue images, with a focus on shape, form and silhouette.

Hailing from Perth, the epicentre of the Australasian drum and bass scene, ShockOne aka Karl Thomas is fast becoming one of bass music’s major talents. ‘A Dark Machine’ is the follow-up to 2013’s debut album ‘Universus’, which spawned the hits Light Cycles, Home and Chaos Theory. Catch the Dark Machine Warehouse tour at Shelter Brewing Co.

To kick off the King’s Birthday long weekend, Passel Estate owner Barry Stimpson will be firing up the BBQ again for another edition of Shiraz and Venison: scrumptious venison brioche burgers with produce as local as you can get from just next door at Margaret River Venison farm. A vegetarian option of grilled haloumi cheese salad will be available by prior request. Enjoy a juicy venison burger, perfectly paired with a glass of Passel Estate Shiraz.

It’s well known that cabernet sauvignon is the King of Wines in the Margaret River Region. To celebrate the King’s Birthday long weekend, Bettenay Wines are offering this exclusive Cabernet Tasting Experience. Sample  their upcoming vintages in barrels, enjoy retrospective tastings and toast the King (and/or the King of Wines) with their rare barrel select Cabernet 2018.

Impatiently waiting for the next Margaret River Pro? The South West Log Fest is for you! This traditional surfing competition held in Western Australia showcases a curated selection of longboarders at an annually changing location, and this year they chose one of our region’s most beautiful beaches: Bunker Bay. No tickets required for spectators, just show up and enjoy the talent unfold in the waves.

The Cape to Cape MTB riding event is nothing short of epic; accessing stunning private trails, vineyard visits, brewery finishes and some of the warmest hospitality the region has to offer. Starting at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta, and finishing four days later at Cape Naturaliste, the Cape to Cape MTB course makes its way through a network of trails along the coast, through National Parks, forests, farmlands, mountain bike parks and bush.

The region’s brand new spring event Pair’d is mandatory for wine and food lovers. Immerse in the exploration and indulgence of the finest wines from the region, venture into renowned local vineyards, meet world-class chefs boasting Michelin stars collaborating with wine connoisseurs, and enjoy fantastic live music for an unforgettable experience. Tickets are selling fast, so make sure you don’t miss out.