The Secret Place MiniFest - SUMMER

Four days of nature, connection, and creating community. In this intimate and inclusive festival, we are drawn together to share skills, ideas, talents, and friendship. 

This is a chance to relax, learn and play on beautiful Wadawurrung country. The festival starts on Thursday 26th of January (public holiday) and goes through to Sunday 29th of January. 

This is a family friendly participatory event where the facilitation of workshops, demonstrations, entertainment, and the maintenance of site facilities are all performed by event attendees. Team work makes the dream work!

Expect workshops during the day, open stage and campfire at night, and spontaneous music, dance, relaxation, and play at anytime and anywhere. This experience will be what you make it but based on the last MiniFest, we anticipate…yoga, permaculture, circus skills, singing, art and craft, guitar, dancing, discussions, meditations, nature walks and more. About 80% of the program will be confirmed before the festival, with some time and space reserved for spontaneous workshops throughout the festival. If you would like to facilitate a workshop and book it in, contact us through the Facebook event page, or send us an email with your idea.

The event is organised by Nikki and Tom (supported by an incredible crew) and located at their property, The Secret Place. This is a 13-acre bush paradise, just ten minutes out of Ballarat or about an hour from Melbourne. There are multiple undercover and open workshop spaces, as well as a communal outdoor kitchen, a playground, two trampolines, and a small dam.

Gates will open on:

• Thursday 26th of January, 11 - 1pm; and 3-5pm. 

• Friday 27th of January, 1pm - 2pm; and

• Saturday 28th of January, 11am-midday.

When you purchase your ticket, you will receive directions to get here, and we’ll email additional details closer to the festival date, including suggestions on what to bring and more information on the site layout.When you arrive at the festival, there will be crew to welcome you and provide your wristband. Once you have your wristband, you can come and go from the festival as you please. Everyone brings their own food for meals. 

The festival concludes at 4pm on Sunday 29th of January and you will need to leave the site by 5pm.

For those that wish to stay on site, there are two camp areas: Bush Bliss, where you can unwind among the eucalyptus trees, or the enchanting Magic Forest which runs along a dry creek bed surrounded by pine trees. There is also a limited number of levelled spots for campervans, and these must be booked when purchasing your ticket.  Note: General carparking is on a sloped grass hill and is unlikely to be comfortable for sleeping in your car! Camp facilities include toilets, hot showers, drinking water, and the communal kitchen. The kitchen has multiple BBQ's, tables and benches, two fridges and some secure space for food storage.  

To stay up to date with more event details, be sure to select 'Going' on the Facebook event page. You can also see photos and videos from the last MiniFest and connect with other people going on the MiniFest Community Facebook group. 

We can't wait to see you in the Summer and share this special time!