What’s Happening in January?

Celebrating its 10^th Birthday, Aravina Estate is a gorgeous destination for a summer afternoon in the sunshine. Their 10 Days of Summer Festival will get you in the groove with live music, an Aperol garden bar, Oyster king Jerry Fraser shucking fresh oysters and a new pizza bar to chow down on. You’ll also be able to enjoy their own range of wines and beers – there’s enough to try a different bevy every afternoon.

Rug up, pack a picnic and enjoy one of the most loved events every year down in Margaret River. Movies at Cape Mentelle runs throughout the warmer months and sees a carefully picked program of new release and well-loved classics on the silver screen. Be sure to bring a jumper, it can get nippy once the sun goes down.

A family focused festival that has been running for over 50 years, you’ll find so many fun things to take part in that you’ll need to extend your holiday thanks to the Festival of Busselton! Try the huge family picnic –  Eats and Best Foodie Fest or The Squid Clinic. Yep, it’s an actual clinic for kids where they can learn all about these slimy sea creatures. No matter what you fancy: arts and crafts, sports or live entertainment – you’ll find it here this January in Busselton.

What could be more magical than a bottle of Margaret River Cab Sav and the Bard? Shakespeare in the Vines at Voyager Estate is an annual fixture on the region’s arts calendar. This year it is the drama of Macbeth under the starlit sky. Just watch your glass otherwise you’ll be ‘out damn spotting’ a red wine spill from your picnic blanket!

Take a trip to Italy without the jetlag throughout January at Cherubino Wines La Dolce Vita. Settle in for the afternoon and enjoy some silky smooth jazz tunes alongside a game of bocce, sweeping vineyard views and Italian pizza from the crew at Pizzica/Salento catering. There are plenty of Cherubino Italian varietal wines of offer, alongside Italian inspired cocktails such as barrel aged Negronis and Aperol Spritz.

Get your glad rags on and get on down to The River for Beer, BBQ, Blues and Roots this January. Sup on smoky goodness from Smokin Bull BBQ and wash it down with an epic selection of craft ales. However, the best part of the event is the chance for a boogie to local legends such as Grace Barbe, Dan Howls and Tom Fisher and The Layabouts.

Freshly shucked oysters. Crisp and aromatic Riesling. Bright blue skies. Could it get any better? Add in out vibes from Kachina DJs and plenty of lush lawn to throw your picnic rug on and roll out a bocce set. Howard Park’s Oysters and Riesling is a summer event you don’t want to miss, even the locals will be lining up for this one with superb back vintages lined up to sample.

With a bright shiny new name, high wire addicts will recognise Karnidale as the one and only WA Circus Festival. The festival is jam packed with entertainment over three days this summer. Get in early for the best seats to catch death defying feats, try your own hand at the carny life at workshops, and enjoy plenty of live music and food stalls.  Be sure to put aside a full day from arvo to midnight for the late-night cabaret. The Lunar Circus International Training project and Summer School is your chance to really sink your teeth into learning the art of circus. With over 125 classes every day, it’s heaven for those that dream of running away to the carny life.

Star Wars fans unite and unleash your best getup. The Ship Inn’s Star Wars Fan Quiz is going to be an entertaining evening whether you are an old school die hard or partial to the new brigade of films. There’ll be good games, silly prizes and plenty of Yoda voices.

Before you get too settled into 2020 you’ve got one more celebration to toast to. Summer Jazz for the Lunar New Year at Passel Estate is the ideal way to ring in the Chinese Year of the Rat here in Margaret River. Shake out a picnic blanket and relax to live jazz in the vineyard and a generous helping of dumplings alongside a glass of wine.

It’s the long weekend and there’s no better way to spend it than down on the beach. Ok, maybe there’s one better way. That’s on one particular spot: The Australia Day Celebration at Busselton Foreshore. Head down for an early morning swim and a charity brekky by the Busselton Geographe Bay Rotary Club. Served from 8.15am, it’s a cracking way to start the day.