Five reasons you’ll want to take a road trip to BLOOM Snowy Valleys this spring

Posted on 27 September, 2024

A leisurely drive to a vibrant street festival in the Snowy Valleys? We’ve found your next springtime adventure. 

Just in time for the warmer weather, BLOOM Snowy Valleys is lighting up the night with an unforgettable festival that will bring the alpine area to life.  

The charming town of Tumut will play host to BLOOM on Saturday 26 October – a celebration of creativity and the local community that calls the Snowy Valley home. Streets will close to traffic for a day and be transformed with placemaking activations. 

Taking place thanks to the funding from the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, BLOOM is all about injecting vibrancy into the streets and helping local businesses and creative sectors thrive. And with something for all ages (including live performances, cultural activities, installations, light features, food, and more) you’ll want to start planning for your weekend away now.  

Here are five reasons to take a road trip to BLOOM Snowy Valleys this spring. Did we mention that it’s free? 

Sip on some high-altitude alcohol 

It’s hard to talk about the Snowy Valleys without mentioning the award-winning alpine alcohol, so this feels like the right place to start – because BLOOM will have plenty to try.  

Highlighting the amazing creations of local producers and suppliers, this is your chance to try everything from multiple award-winning cool-climate wines to adventurous spirits that pay tribute to the magic of the Snowy region.  

Sip and savour crisp wine from Obsession Wines; whisky, gin, and vodka from Ladbroken Distillery Brewhouse; beer and wine from Oriental Hotel Tumut and handmade cider from Crafty Cider. As for food? Expect a range of savoury and sweet options with gozleme, pizza, crepes, and more on offer. Keep an eye on the website for more delicious announcements! 

Lantern making, light shows and more will light up your night 

Image: Colin Strauss

Every Snowy Valleys local knows about the magic of Lanterns on the Lagoon – and with plans to bring it back with a bang, you’ll need to see it for yourself to understand the hype.  

Working in collaboration with The Lanternist, Lanterns on the Lagoon will be lighting up the night with a lantern-making workshop for all ages that invites people to create a lantern to take home, as well as a special creation to hang from nearby trees.  

If that’s not enough, BLOOM will also feature a selection of The Lanternist’s custom lanterns, hidden throughout the festival, giant light-up ladybugs who will be strutting and dancing their way through Pioneer Park and you’ll be able to immersive yourself in a sea of light, smoke and sound with the interactive installation Crazy Big Theremin.  

Let your inner child play  

Or your actual child. Either way, BLOOM will also be running some amazing hands-on activities for kids and kids at heart.  

From games (including badminton, ring toss, volleyball, soccer, cornhole toss, and more) to art workshops that will channel your inner artist, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.  

The highlights? You can’t miss the workshop by Flip Paint Scribble or the Chalk Walk – an interactive activity inviting attendees to light up the path with vibrant chalk creations, with a twist. Using chalk that glows in the dark, you can make your mark in the day and come back once the sun has set to see it light up the night! 

Listen to live music  

A street festival isn’t complete without live music, so pop these acts in your diary. Taking over the main stage and performing throughout the event space, you can’t miss the sweet sounds of The Baker Boys Band, Wild Tracks, Tumut Jazz Band, Marty’s Music School, and Mollie Waters.  

Performing everything from rock to jazz, there’s something for every kind of music lover. A fun fact? All of the musos performing (except for The Baker Boys, who have also been tempted by the prospect of a weekend away) are locals! 

Make a whole weekend of it  

So, you’ve made the trip out to the Snowy Valleys – why not make a weekend of it? With the Tumbarumba Spring Flower Festival and Tumbarumba Tastebuds on the same weekend, it’s the perfect excuse to spend a Saturday and Sunday exploring the area.  

The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail is not to be missed – a permanent sculpture collection created by the team behind Sculpture by the Sea that meanders 150km from Adelong to Tooma along the picturesque Snowy Valleys Way. The trail team will be conducting an art installation and workshop at BLOOM, with artist Robyn Veneer-Sweeney completing the installation by bringing together pieces created by local schools. Visitors can also contribute! 

And if you need even more incentive, there will also be free buses running to and from BLOOM, collecting people from Adelong, Khancoban, Tumbarumba, Batlow, Talbingo, Gundagai and Brungle – you’ll just need to book ahead. 

We told you that you’d want to take a road trip.