Sustainable Summer Festivities

In Sustainable Australian Travel For Dummies, I provided a list of important cultural and green-themed events that showcase Australia's cultural and environmental attraction. I focused on those social, historical and particularly Australian events that give a great insight into the culture.

Although the book listed some of the larger festivals that occur during the year, it is clear that the post-Christmas summer period of January and February is prime festival time around Australia. So here is my updated list of the best of Australia's festivals and events worth checking out in the coming months.

January

* The Sydney Festival, NSW is a month long series of concerts, exhibitions and talks held in the centre of Sydney - http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/.

* Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW (Tamworth s 459km/285 miles north-west of Sydney) is Australia’s premier country music festival that takes place in late January - http://www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au/.

* Australia Day, Australia-wide (January 26) marks the landing of the First Fleet of convicts into Sydney Harbour in 1788 (some celebrate it as Invasion Day) - http://www.australiaday.com.au/.

* Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne, Victoria (end of January) is Australia’s contribution to the global Grand Slam of tennis - http://www.ausopen.org.au/.

* Tour Down Under, South Australia (starts the third week of January) is Australia’s answer to the Tour de France – a week long cross country cycling event starting and finishing in Adelaide and taking in the Barossa and the Adelaide Hills - http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/.

* Falls Music and Arts Festival, Lorne, Victoria, (finishes on New Years Day) is located in the beautiful Otway Forest overlooking the Great Ocean Road and showcases Australian and International acts in an environmentally concious campsite setting - http://www.fallsfestival.com.au/.

* Summadayze, national (early January), is an ever-growing national dance-music festival that had its origins in Melbourne. A highlight will be the New Year's eve event on Sydney Harbour (dubbed Summanights) - http://www.summadayze.com/

* St Jerome's Laneway Festival, national (January and February), is a unique festival that originated in Melbourne's famous city laneways that now showcases some of the world's best alternative and independent artists in other famous inner-city precincts around Australia - http://melbourne.lanewayfestival.com/ 

* Big Day Out, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth (end January/early February) is now Australia’s premier all-day musical event in various Australian cities - http://www.bigdayout.com/.

* Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Bondi Beach, Sydney (early January) screens the best Australian and global short films in an outdoor beachside setting - http://www.flickerfest.com.au/


* Tasmania Taste Festival, Hobart, Tasmania (late December, early January) is a week-long festival that takes place on Hobart's historical waterfront showcases Tasmanian and Australian art, food and music - http://www.tastefestival.com.au/.

* Woodford Folk Festival, outside Woodford in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Queensland, (finishes on January 1), takes place on land owned and managed by the not-for-profit Queensland Folk Federation. The festival is a week-long session of concerts, street theatre, writers’ panels, comedy sessions, debate and an environmental programme featuring talks, films, and art and craft workshops - http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/.

February

* Sustainable Living Festival, Federation Square, Melbourne (mid February) has become one of the world’s premier green events http://www.slf.org.au/

* Tropfest, The Domain, Sydney (Sunday on the third weekend of February) is the largest short film festival/competition in the world simulcast from The Domain to other Australian cities http://www.tropfest.com/.

* Good Vibrations Festival, Sydney/Perth/Gold Coast/Melbourne (mid February), showcases popular Australian and International music acts - http://www.goodvibrations.com.au/.

* Barossa Under the Stars, Tanunda, South Australia (early February) has become a highly popular outdoor concert event within the premier wine growing region of Australia - http://www.barossaunderthestars.com.au/.

* Festivale, Launceston, Tasmania is a three day celebration of Tasmanian food, wine and culture (second weekend of February) - http://www.festivale.com.au/.

* Playground Weekender, Wisemans Ferry (northern Sydney. NSW), is a 4-day music festival camp-out (mid February) that also includes food and markets stalls, yoga, an outdoor theatre and even a dress-up day! - http://www.playgroundweekender.com.au/.

* St Kilda Festival, Melbourne, Victoria, (early to mid February) is one of Australia's oldest and most famous urban festivals which hosts a variety of musical acts and showcases local businesses in and around Melbourne's most famous inner-city beachside suburb - http://stkildafestival.com.au/

* Earth Freq, Sunshine Coast hinterland, Queensland (mid February) is a full-on community minded environmental, music, arts and lifestyle wrapped into one festival -  http://www.earthfreq.com/.

* Nannup Music Festival, Nannup (near Margaret River) in Western Australia's south-west (end of February), this long running festival showcases local and international folk and world music, poetry, dance and street theatre throughout the village of Nannup -  http://www.nannupmusicfestival.org/