Victorian Seniors Festival 2026 – What’s On in Regional Victoria
Held across Melbourne and regional Victoria, the Victorian Seniors Festival takes place throughout October 2026 and celebrates the lives of Victorians aged 60 and over.
While we’re not involved in running the Festival, we’re here to help you make the most of it. This guide highlights some of the best events happening in regional Victoria – a wonderful excuse to get out, explore, and enjoy this special month.
Contact the Victorian Seniors Festival organisers via seniorsfestival@dffh.vic.gov.au or 03 8850 6164
Don’t forget to see what your local council has planned for Seniors Month—you might discover surprising activities and experiences right in your own community.
This article lists our top pick of Seniors Festival events across regional Victoria. Find highlight events happening across metropolitan Melbourne here. And find the best deals on offer during Seniors Month here.
When is the Victorian Seniors Festival 2026?
From 1 October to 31 October 2026.
When is Victorian Seniors Week 2026?
As a Victorian Seniors Card holder, you can explore Victoria with free public transport during the Victorian Seniors Festival. The 2026 free public transport dates are TBC.
The following article has not yet been updated for 2026.
What’s on in Regional Victoria for the Seniors Festival 2025
Northern Regions Victorian Seniors Festival Events
*Goldfields Explorer Steam Train (Fridays & Sundays, Oct 2025). Departing from Platform 3, Castlemaine Station. Seniors save 15% in October with promo code SENIORS25 when booking online.
Guided Tour of Benalla’s Aboriginal Garden (Thu 2 Oct 2025, 10:00–11:30 am). Enjoy morning tea by the Broken River before joining local Elder Uncle Chris Thorne for a guided walk through the Aboriginal Gardens. Learn about native plants, their uses, and the cultural significance of this special place. Free.
Historic Maryborough Railway Station Tour & Dining Experience (5–9 Oct 2025, 12–3pm).Enjoy a delicious lunch in the former first-class dining room before a guided tour uncovering the station’s myths, history, and hidden stories. Tickets $32.50.
Fondant Flowers and Morning Tea (Thu 2 Oct 2025, 10:30 am). Join Bendigo Region Women’s Shed for a hands-on craft session making fondant flowers and shapes for decorating cakes. Enjoy morning tea. Please bring an apron. $5, all materials provided. Community Pavilion, 21 Cunneen Street, Long Gully. Bookings: Sally 0412 258 576 or vice.president@bendigoregionwomensshed.org
An Evening with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Thu 9 Oct 2025). Enjoy Glinka, Brahms and Saint-Saëns with conductor Leonard Weiss and violinist Tair Khisambeev. Tickets $49–$69. Accessible venue.
Astronomy for Seniors – Portable Planetarium (Fri 10 Oct 2025, 10–11 am). Discover planets, stars and galaxies in an immersive planetarium experience at Bendigo Library. Free, bookings essential.
Benalla Rural City Art Trail (Fri 10 Oct 2025). Discover where Country meets creativity from 10 am to 2.45 pm. This event is $5 and includes bus travel and lunch.
Country Concerts (1-31 Oct 2025). Enjoy free and very low cost live music across 23 rural and regional communities in Victoria. For event details and local council contacts, visit the Seniors Online website.
As the Crow Flies (Tue 7 Oct 2025). Join Geoffrey W Graham for a laid-back Aussie afternoon of verse, yarns, songs and nostalgia in Mooroopna. Gold coin donation, afternoon tea included.
Benalla Costume & Kelly Museum (1–16 Oct 2025). Explore local history and fashion from 1770 to today, including Ned Kelly memorabilia. Free, fully accessible, and operated by Benalla Historical Society.
Gateway Island Walk and Talk (Thu 9 Oct 2025). Take a guided 4.3km walk along Gateway Island Trail to discover local flora, fauna, and public art. Meet at the rear of The Lincoln – Albury Wodonga. Free, bookings required.
Tour of Albury Waste Management Centre (Wed 8 & Tue 14 Oct 2025). Go behind the scenes to see how waste and recycling are managed at Albury’s advanced facilities. Free, includes morning tea.
Abseiling – Mount Buffalo National Park (Sat 11 – Sun 12 Oct 2025). Take part in an introductory abseiling adventure at Mount Buffalo Gorge with experienced local leaders. Multiple free sessions are available each day, adaptable to all ages and abilities. Bookings essential.
Free as a Bird Fiesta & Friends (26 Oct 2025). Celebrate birds, art and community with exhibitions, birdwatching tips, food, and family fun at Bridgeward Grove, Goornong. Free, bookings required.
High Country Gardens & Maze Outing – Jamieson (Wed 22 Oct 2025, 10:00 am–12:00 pm). Breathe in the fresh air and explore the beautiful High Country Gardens, Maze & Gallery. Enjoy artwork, flowers, and the cosy café while socialising with friends. A bus will provide return transport from Jamieson, Goughs Bay, or Howes Creek. Free, bookings essential. Accessible venue (note: some areas are grass or pebbles).
Duneira Estate Bluebell Festival (25–26 Oct 2025). Celebrate spring in Mt Macedon’s heritage gardens with carpets of bluebells, live music, homestead tours and guided walks. Tickets $15, include entry and tours.
Eastern Regions Victorian Seniors Festival Events
Heritage & Art Bus Tour (Every Thursday in Oct 2025, 10.00 am–2.00 pm). Explore Mornington Peninsula’s heritage and arts with guided tours, lunch, and transport included. Tickets $15. Bookings essential.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival, Silvan (13 Sept – 12 Oct 2025). Celebrating 70 years of stunning blooms with over a million tulips on display, interactive activities, food stalls, and themed weekends. Concession tickets from $22.50.
Cherryhill Orchards Blossom Festival (24 Sep – 5 Oct 2025). Celebrate spring with delightful photo opportunities, festive treats, and a perfect family outing in the countryside.
Live Artist Demonstrations (Thu 2, 9, 16 & 23 Oct 2025). Enjoy weekly themed art demonstrations at Moy-Yan Neighbourhood House, Garfield. Free, hands-on creative inspiration with different techniques each week, plus morning tea included.
Moe CWA Flower Making Demonstration (Mon 6 Oct 2025, 10:30 am–2:30 pm). Join Moe CWA for a free flower-making demo with light lunch. Seniors Festival event. Bookings essential; limited spots.
Guided History Tour of Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick (Mon 6 Oct 2025, 10:30–11:30 am). Take a guided shuttle tour of Wilson Botanic Park, learn about its rich history, and enjoy morning tea afterwards. Accessible shuttle buses with hoist and wheelchair spaces provided. Free, bookings essential.
Getting Dressed with Jane Austen: 250th Anniversary (Wed 8 Oct 2025). Step inside a Georgian wardrobe through Austen’s letters. Discover Regency fashion from underwear to outerwear. Free accessible event with refreshments. Traralgon. Bookings required.
Shedfest Yarra Valley Wine Festival (Sat 11 & Sun 12 Oct 2025, 11 am–5 pm). Enjoy tastings at 13 family-owned wineries, with food, music, and entertainment. Tickets $35 (earlybird discount until 1 Oct).
Life in the Senior’s Lane (Mon 13–Mon 27 Oct 2025). Paul Bianco’s vibrant portrait exhibition celebrates spirited seniors of Emerald. Fernlea Community House, 9.00 am–3.00 pm. Free. Refreshments provided.
Kirth Kiln Historic Talk & Bush Walks (Tue 21 Oct 2025). Discover Kurth Kiln history, enjoy static displays, morning tea, and optional guided bushwalks. Kirth Kiln Regional Park, 10.00 am–1.00 pm. Bookings required.
Go-Go Dance Class (Wed 22 Oct 2025, 11.00 am–12.00 pm). Learn 1960s go-go dance moves with Vicky. Fun, low-cost class. No partner or experience needed. Optional 60s outfit! Tickets $5 in cash on the day or via Trybooking here.
Bush Bites – Truffle Delights! (Thu 30 Oct 2025). Learn about indigenous bush foods with Aunty Sammy and make native truffles at Cardinia U3A, Pakenham, 10.00–11.30 am. Free event.
Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs (1 – 31 Oct 2025). Enjoy special programs including warm water exercise, body clay sessions, live music, and scones at the café. Senior bathing rates start from $45. Highly recommended, read our review here.
Western Regions Victorian Seniors Festival Events
Archibald Prize 2025 (Daily until 9 Nov 2025). Geelong Gallery hosts Victoria’s exclusive showing of Australia’s leading portraiture award. See Archibald finalists up close. Seniors tickets $20, bookings recommended.
JWard Guided Bus Tour (Mon 6 Oct 2025, 10:30 am–2:15 pm). Explore Ararat’s historic gaol and asylum on a guided bus tour. Seniors Festival free event. Bookings essential. Bus and admission included; lunch not provided.
The Tom Jones Story (7 Oct 2025). Tony Jones channels the legendary Tom Jones in a morning of hits and showmanship. Morning tea included. Tickets $20. The Potato Shed, Drysdale.
Letters of Love and Dementia (11 Oct 2025, 2–4pm). Celebrate intergenerational kindness and connection through short films and an uplifting exhibition exploring love, dementia, and body positivity. Held at Daylesford Community Health Centre. Free, bookings required.
Dunkeld Museum Tours & Afternoon Tea (Sun 5, 12, 19 & 26 Oct 2025, 1–5 pm). Discover the history of Dunkeld and the Southern Grampians with a guided tour of Dunkeld Museum. Learn about pioneering stories and the community’s connection to the Grampians, then enjoy a free afternoon tea. Free, no bookings required.
Barwon Park Open Days (Sundays & Wednesdays, Oct 2025). Explore a grand 42-room bluestone mansion near Winchelsea with guided tours by the National Trust. $10 entry, bookings via National Trust.
Orchestra Geelong Seniors Festival Concert (18 Oct 2025). Enjoy classical favourites with Geelong’s longest-running community orchestra at the Geelong Library. Tickets $10.
Geelong Stamp and Coin Fair (Sat 11 Oct 2025). Featuring over 20 stamp & coin dealers and local club representatives. Discuss your collection with us. Free entry, light refreshments and parking available. 9am-3pm at Geelong West Town Hall.
Retro Entertainment Cruise (Thu 16 Oct 2025). Enjoy live music, laughs and themed entertainment on the water with Retro Entertainment Cruises. Departing Portarlington 12.30–2.00 pm. Tickets $25.
Super Brain Dance with Maggie Flanagan (Thu 16 Oct 2025, 10:30 am–12 pm). Celebrate Seniors Month with a fun and energising dance workshop designed to boost brain health and wellbeing. Led by counsellor and wellness coach Maggie Flanagan, this interactive session blends gentle physical activity with brain-boosting exercises, mindfulness, and music from diverse cultures. Horsham Library. Free, bookings essential.
Warrnambool Botanic Gardens – Spring Garden Tour (Fri 17 Oct 2025, 1:15–2:15 pm). Join members of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens for a guided spring tour of the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens. Meet at the garden rotunda and enjoy an afternoon exploring seasonal highlights. The tour will be followed by afternoon tea. Free, bookings essential via Archie Reception or call 5559 4920.
Ride-Connect-Thrive in Geelong (Fri 3, Fri 10 & Fri 31 Oct 2025). Enjoy beginner-friendly, social cycling rides highlighting Geelong’s trails and cycle routes. Each ride includes a supportive group, a coffee stop, and backup transport if needed. Free, bookings required.
More events for the 2025 Seniors Festival will be published soon, watch this space!
Free Public Transport for Seniors Week
As well as great events and activities happening across regional Victoria and Melbourne, Victorian Seniors Card holders receive a full week of completely free public transport across the state! This is happening from Sunday 5 to Sunday 12 October 2025.
Related reading: Guide to Free Public Transport for Seniors Week
What’s on in Metro Melbourne for Seniors Festival 2025
- Find our top pick of events happening across metropolitan Melbourne for Seniors Month here.
- Find the best deals on offer during Seniors Month here.
Heading off on your own Melbourne adventures? Join our Facebook Group and share your stories, ask questions and connect with others for further inspiration.
Disclaimer: Some businesses in this article have paid for a little extra spotlight – you’ll spot them with an asterisk (*). We only say yes to partners we think you’ll love, so if it’s here, it’s because we’d happily recommend it to our own friends (and probably have).
Disclaimer: Seniors in Melbourne is an independent platform and is not affiliated with the Victorian Seniors Festival, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), or the Victorian Government. All content is created and published independently.
These events or promotions are listed by the event owner on their own independent website and confirmation of any details should be reviewed on their site, as these are subject to change.
Contact the Victorian Seniors Festival organisers via seniorsfestival@dffh.vic.gov.au or 03 8850 6164
This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase.
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