General News
17 March, 2026
Two decades of booktown
Clunes Booktown Festival returns this weekend marking its 20th anniversary of celebrating books and community.
The Clunes Booktown Festival returns this weekend championing storytelling in its many forms: from local tales, to undiscovered gems, and even their own two decade legacy.
This weekend’s book festival promises to be a page turner for the thousands of people expected to descend on Clunes across March 21 and 22.
It’ll be a goldrush of a different kind in the historic town, as people search the over 140 book stalls for the story that’s their just-right fit.
But those who can pull themselves away from the search can enjoy the all-day entertainment on offer as well as expert talks and workshops.
It’s a packed shelf of weekend entertainment program manager Angela Crocombe is proud to share.
“You have lots of moments where you get tingles up and down your spine,” she said.
This year the event is marking its 20th anniversary, despite running since 2007, thanks to the efforts of countless volunteers.
Creative director Suzi Cordell said the milestone anniversary represents an “extraordinary” local legacy of bringing joy.
“If there wasn’t joy in it why would we,” she said.
Across the organisers and volunteers are people who have been with the festival since the beginning.
Among them is Richard Gilbert who joined in 2008 and only stepped back a few years ago.
He said he was worried volunteers would lose steam over the decades but was happy to see new generations step forward.
Through their efforts Mr Gilbert said the booktown has remained true to its heart of “a love of books and a love of pleasing the community”.
Just a few highlights over the weekend include First Nations astronomer Krystal De Napoli providing an indigenous perspective on the night sky, the return of the poetry slam responding to the booktown’s theme of defiance and hope, as well as a panel that explores how best to live and die well.
The kid’s village also returns with the theme of birds, embodying hope, alongside numerous activities for the youngest of readers.
For more information on the Clunes Booktown Festival’s schedule and prices, visit clunes booktown.org.au