What’s Happening in April?

Take a round-the-world trip to discover the many sides of the elusive grape, Pinot Blanc. Set in the relaxed Lenton Brae Cellar Door, taste Pinot Blancs from Alsace, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, and Australia during a dedicated Pinot Blanc Evening. Lenton Brae will be represented by their 2022 Pinot Blanc alongside two older vintages straight from the cellar. With an epic spread of local fruits, meats, cheeses, and crackers plus great door prizes on top, it is sure to be an enticing and intriguing foray into the many virtues of this variety.

Boo Seeka has packed up the tour van and hit the road, stopping in at all the best spots regional Australia has to offer. Needless to say, the iconic Settlers Tavern made the list. On April 1st, catch the smooth synths and percussive beats of Boo Seeka at Settlers.

Did you know that Dunsborough plays host to Australia’s largest off-road triathlon? Set in the breath-taking Meelup Regional Park, this endurance race will see competitors swim the picturesque waters of Geographe Bay and then take to land to mountain bike the single coastal and finish with a trail run weaving between native bush and gorgeous shoreline. Catering to abilities from elite athletes to weekend warriors, there is even a kid’s course creating a fun and friendly race environment.

Art, cuisine and community come together for Bowls for Soupie, a fundraiser for our beloved Margaret River Soup Kitchen. Local ceramic artist, Ian Dowling, has led a group of professional potters in the creation of 200 handcrafted bowls. These exquisite creations are for sale, and you can check them out at the Margaret River Heart – Nala Bardip Mia from April 6-26.

Then on Thursday April 27, the Soupie will be serving up an extra special meal with renowned chef Tony Howell on the tools and DJ Erik on the tunes for the main fundraiser event. Come along and purchase an incredible meal or splash out for a bowl and a meal. What a brilliant way to support food security in our community!

Easter is all about indulgence from hot cross buns to chocolate treats. If you are looking for the perfect way to work off all the sweets, then head down to Gracetown this Easter Saturday for the Gracetown Bay Swim. Now in its 23rd year, the swim is a one-kilometre course that welcomes all abilities. Swim to win or simply give it a go, there is even a short course and fun events for the kids.

Celebrate Easter CowTown style with the Cowaramup Easter Fair 2023. With plenty of stalls filled with all the best local artisan goods the region has to offer, you are guaranteed to find a treasure to take home.

While in Cowaramup, continue the Easter celebrations with Passel Estate for an afternoon of delicious slow roasted lamb kebab, sublime wine and delightful French chanson music. Let talented musician Tess Merlot and guitarist Kevin McDonald indulge you in sweet tunes, while you relax on the deck in the autumn sunshine with food and drink in hand.

Craving some culture? Head to JahRoc Galleries for the Sam Broadhurst – Beyond My Studio Window Exhibition. At the Exhibition Opening Event, Sam will be giving an interactive artist talk, plus there will be free-flowing fine wine and live music. In this latest body of work, Sam focuses on capturing the gorgeous coastal landscapes from our very own region. A true visual celebration of the breath-taking beauty that surrounds us, you won’t want to miss this.

Watch as the critically acclaimed children’s book, Cicada by Shaun Tan, comes to life before your eyes. Presented by some of WA’s leading theatre-makers, the Barking Gecko Theatre, this production uses puppetry and visual storytelling to tell the tale of difference, resilience and that special light that we all have inside ourselves. Gather your little ones, family and friends for an extraordinary spectacle of Cicada by Barking Gecko Theatre at Margaret River Heart – Nala Bardip Mia.

International bestselling author of ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’, Pip Williams, is coming to the Margaret River Region to launch her newest novel ‘The Bookbinder of Jericho’. It tells the compelling and heart-wrenching story of twin sisters Peggy and Maude, who work in the bindery at Oxford University Press in 1914 as World War I begins to unfold in Europe. It is a story that explores the idea of knowledge – who is allowed to access it and what can happen when it is withheld. Pip Williams will be joined in conversation by Rosi Moore-Fiander at the Book Launch Event.

Surely one of the biggest events on the Margaret River Region’s annual calendar: the Margaret River Pro. One of only two Australian events on the prestigious World Surf League (WSL) World Championship Tour (CT), it draws the world’s top professional surfers to the area to take on our most epic waves. This section of the tour covers 10 full days from April 20th and it is positioned as the mid-season decider. This means all the top stars will be throwing everything they’ve got at this competition for their chance to progress to the second half of the tour. Spectating is free, plus there is an entire event hub with full-on festival vibes, big screens, expert commentary, food trucks and merch. You might even get the chance to meet your biggest surfing idols up close and personal as they greet the crowd and sign autographs.

For 3-hours of uninterrupted cinematic celebration of the sublime beauty and power of our oceans, head to the Ocean Film Festival 2023. Comprised of multiple mini-documentaries made by divers, swimmers, surfers and oceanographers, it is guaranteed to enthral all those who love the sea’s salty spray. Featuring everything from stunning underwater shots and sealife to fast-paced wave sequences and awesome cinematography, this is the ultimate film fest for all those ocean-obsessed.

Evans & Tate are launching a new range of wine and to mark this momentous occasion they are teaming up with Ocean Photographer Andrew Semark to serve up an afternoon of art, food and music. Andrew will host a pop-up gallery at the Cellar Door, exhibiting his gorgeous prints from his Ocean, Land and Sea collections. Sip on a complimentary glass of Wild Cape wine on arrival, view the collection and then head out to the lawn for live music from local artist Dan White and delicious woodfired pizza from the Peace Pizza food truck.

Observe ANZAC day with the Busselton RSL Sub-branch. Starting with a Dawn Service at 5.45am followed by a Gunfire Breakfast and street parade from 8.45am, the day will conclude with a Main Service at Cenotaph in Victoria Square, Busselton.

Round out this jampacked month with the Busselton Festival of Triathlon. The main event consists of a 2km swim along the iconic Busselton Jetty, an 80km ride through the Tuart Forrest and an 18km run along the pristine Geographe Bay. If you aren’t quite up to that monumental challenge, don’t worry because there are events aimed at all ages and abilities such as the Busselton Fun Run or Kids Triathlon. Once the hard work is over you are perfectly positioned to take in all that the Busselton Foreshore has to offer. Relax and recover on the calm coast or head into one of the many eateries that dot the shore.

If you love nothing more than snuggling up with a good book, then this is the event for you. The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival celebrates all things storytelling with a dizzying array of novelists, journalists, creative thinkers, artists, and performers from WA, interstate and abroad. It is the flagship annual literature event of Arts Margaret River and the biggest and best regional literary event in Western Australia. Aimed at keeping the love of reading, writing, and creating alive in our community, it runs across 3 days and includes author’s talks, workshops and networking events. Plus, there is a youth program that brings in children’s authors. Get ready for two wordy weeks set around Margaret River, the City of Busselton, Augusta and surrounding areas.

After making the tough decision to cancel in 2022, the Truffle Kerfuffle is finally back and we cannot be more excited. Centred around celebrating one of the world’s most decadent ingredients, fresh black truffles, this weekend-long event will play host to countless activities from truffle hunting to luxurious dining events featuring world-renowned chefs. The ultimate winter getaway, start planning your trip to the heart of Australia’s truffle country now.