Arts & Culture
Wangaratta is a vibrant centre for arts, culture and heritage, and we are home to a number of galleries, festivals and events throughout the year.
Arts
The Wangaratta Art Gallery delivers a high calibre shows by regional artists, touring exhibitions and joint ventures, along with a number of workshops and programs for children.
The annual King Valley Art Show attracts artists from near and far to compete in these prestigious awards.
The Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre offers a diverse range of shows, from opera and dance, to comedy and children’s plays.
Get involved - develop your own creative projects with a term or casual session at Made in Clay.
Festivals and Events
We have a vibrant and exciting calendar of events. Food and wine lovers can indulge in all things Italian at the La Dolce Vita Festival. The Weekend Fit For A King allows attendees to taste new release wines and feast on local produce with the winemaking families of the King Valley.
For music buffs, we have an annual Festival of Jazz & Blues and the region regularly attracts high profiling singers and bands each year.
The Off-Grid Living Festival is Australia's biggest sustainability event. Featuring talks, workshops and demonstrations, you'll see the best sustainable and off-grid living ideas from around the country. You'll also have the opportunity to meet and learn from sustainable technology gurus and innovative thinkers, low impact craftspeople, farmers and healers.
Our history
Regional Victoria is steeped with history, and in Wangaratta & surrounds we are very proud of our heritage and telling the story of our history.
The Wangaratta area was originally inhabited by the Bpangerang People and our name derives from the Bpangerang words for the long neck cormorant 'Wanga' - meaning long neck, and 'Ratta' meaning cormorant. Our Bullawah Cultural Trail is a self-guided family experience which shares and celebrate our local indigenous people and their stories.
The township of Glenrowan is the site of the final siege and capture of Ned Kelly and his gang in 1880. Their great Australian story is preserved through the township and can be easily explored via a self-guided tour, taking all the key sites of their historic last siege.