The Words In Winter website is alive!

Hello gentle reader,

The official Words in Winter website is up and running at www.wordsinwinter.com!

Please click your way there and enjoy a program chock full of delights which cover the whole month of August in ten unique Victorian towns.

And if you feel like some more clicking you can follow us on twitter (@WordsinWinter) and like us on Facebook.

Happy reading & we hope we see you soon!

Yes you're in the right place - full program appearing here SOON!

Gone to The Rex!

Ok folks, get out your calendars and write "Gone to The Rex" in big letters across the weekend of August 10th and 11th.

That's Words In Winter's stunning centrepiece of non-stop, back-to-back performances, plays, concerts, workshops, seminars and soirees at the Rex Theatre, right in the heart of Daylesford. Unmissable for the young, the old and every switched-on soul in-between!

Our official program is almost ready. It won't be long until you can read about the treasure trove of fascinating, beautiful, hilarious and inspiring events for you to enjoy in Daylesford and surrounding towns all throughout August.

Until then, here's some dates that might interest regular attendees:

* The festival opens on Friday 2nd August with a special evening at The Rex

* The Clever Town Crossword Challenge takes place across the region on Saturday 3rd August - help your town win!

* The 3rd Annual DPS Secondhand Book Fair will run on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th of August at Daylesford Primary School hall - find a bargain!

* The Country Victoria Scrabble Championships fight it out on Saturday 17th August - spectators and casual players welcome

* The electrifying Hepburn Libraries Family Day will fill Daylesford Town Hall with creativity and fun on Sunday 18th August - for kids aged 0 to 13 & their families

More about the exciting events at Clunes, Trentham, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Yandoit and Newstead in our next update.

Stay tuned! And keep your pen handy!

Hiddens Treasures at Words in Winter

Hidden Treasures is this year's theme and festival organisers are encouraging local presenters to share stories of precious things.

 "We are very rich here in this community - with history, with places of special significance, with local interest groups, with exceptional people, with arts, and ideas. This region has many hidden treasures beyond the gold and sparkling water," said Jen Bray, Chair of Words in Winter.

"We have a new committee this year," said  Ms Bray.  "Words in Winter is well established and loved in this region, and we want to uphold that tradition, while bringing a fresh approach."

"We'll be creating a festival hub in Daylesford where people can catch up on what's happening, meet friends and have a coffee or a drink after a show. In fact, we will have two hubs."

The Rex Theatre is a fantastic intimate theatre space for talks, and performances and visiting author's readings. "We'll transform the Rex foyer into a cosy lounge with live music, DJ's and roving entertainment. It will be the heart of the festival, with info about what's on and a place to relax and chat with food and coffee shops nearby."

"Then from late afternoon into the evening our Festival Club kicks in at Buffalo Girls coffee bar for chat shows, live music, poetry and DJs spinning the vinyl."

But it's not just Daylesford - Words in Winter extends to the wider region with activities planned in Clunes, Creswick, Trentham, Newstead and Maryborough. The festival, supported by Hepburn Shire Council,  includes a Short Story competition, Clever Town Crossword Challenge, Scrabble Games, and the Hepburn Libraries Family Day. 

Coming Soon ... Words in Winter

August 2013 will be here before we know it, and this is the place you'll discover all the offerings at this year's Words in Winter festival. 

Stories by the fire is the best way to spend winter and this festival creates a glowing hub of entertainment with a hot cuppa at arm's reach. Words in Winter is a celebration of stories and ideas in all their forms, shared by locals and visiting presenters through readings, poetry, theatre, music, talks, workshops, performances and exhibitions.

The upcoming Words in Winter website will detail the many events occurring across various towns in Victoria's Central Highlands, centred on Daylesford but including Trentham, Newstead, Maryborough, Clunes and Creswick.

We're also inviting all poets, performers, writers, speakers, artists and musos to submit your entries for the festival program. Deadline is Friday 10 May. Contact Jen Bray email: bray_jen at hotmail dot com for expressions of interest details.

In the meantime, here's a taste of the style of this year's Daylesford Gala: