A good yarn by the Murray: Echuca Moama’s new festival

Get the book club together and give your music-loving friends a call, Echuca Moama’s inaugural Festival of Stories offers a compelling excuse to spend a spring weekend by the Murray, listening to some of Australia’s finest storytellers.

Dan Sultan, Sammy J and celebrated authors including Jock Serong and Meg Bignell are among the drawcards for the October 16–18 festival, which brings 30 curated events to the twin towns.

The appeal goes beyond seeing a familiar name on stage. Visitors can hear how a favourite author approaches their work, join a conversation over lunch or listen to songs in language from the deck of a paddlesteamer.

On Yorta Yorta Country, beside the Murray, known as Dhungala, the festival will bring visiting artists together with local voices. Farmers and chefs have a place in the program alongside cultural leaders, journalists and filmmakers.

Opening night on the wharf

The historic Echuca Wharf will host Friday evening’s Storytellers Sundowner, with ARIA Award-winning musician Dan Sultan appearing alongside local Yorta Yorta singer-songwriters Benny Walker and Madi Colville-Walker.

Their performances will share song, story and language beside the river, putting First Nations voices at the centre of the opening celebration.

The setting is part of the attraction. Across the weekend, events will take visitors into heritage buildings and onto paddlesteamers, with the Campaspe Regional Library and local hospitality venues also hosting sessions.

Saturday evening returns to the wharf for Sammy J’s Comedy Club at 6pm, followed by Songs & Stories with Sultan and Walker at 8.30pm. It is a tempting night out after a day exploring the festival and the towns.

Bring the book club

For readers, there is plenty to build a weekend around.

Jock Serong will lead a free creative writing workshop at Echuca Library on Friday, followed later that day by a journalism forum examining why regional media matters. Both require registration.

Saturday’s book lovers’ luncheon brings Meg Bignell into conversation with moderator Jaclyn Crupi at Morrisons Winery in Moama. Later, Serong and fellow novelist Mark Brandi will discuss storytelling and place with Fleur Ferris at the library.

These sessions offer a chance to hear the experiences and decisions behind the finished books, with time to enjoy the company of fellow readers.

Film and television fans can hear from producer and Echuca local Joanna Werner, whose credits include Dance Academy and Goolagong. She will join documentary filmmaker Kate Newlyn to discuss storytelling through the screen.

Yorta Yorta Elder and academic Dr Wayne Atkinson will share a Yorta Yorta story in a separate author event.

Festival chair Christy O’Brien says bringing headline artists and local creatives together was central to the planning.

“This is a festival like no other with headline Australian artists featured alongside local creatives in storytelling events, workshops and experiences including a creative writing workshop, journalism forum, poetry breakfast, cultural weaving, nature walks and many other community-based storytelling experiences,” she says.

Sunday on the river and around the table

Sunday’s “Stories for the Soul” program gives visitors more ways to take part, including author and coach Kemi Nekvapil’s Honouring the Seasons of Your Life masterclass at Moama Art Gallery.

A cultural paddlesteamer cruise will feature Madi Colville-Walker singing in language on Dhungala, offering an opportunity to experience her music on the river itself.

At Wildgreen in Moama, Nekvapil and regenerative farmer and author Jade Miles will join Crupi for a lunch conversation about storytelling through the seasons. Chef Daniel Giraud and Rich Glen founder Ros Vodusek will also contribute to a Q&A.

O’Brien says the festival was developed to connect people through stories, both to one another and to the place and community around them.

“Everyone has a story to tell, and through this festival we’re creating a platform to celebrate the ancient art of storytelling in a modern world,” she says.

“We invite everyone to join us at our first ever Festival of Stories and be part of the story.”

For visitors, the pleasure will be in choosing how to spend the weekend. Book a favourite performer, make a lunch date with friends or try a workshop. With free and ticketed events throughout the program, there are plenty of ways to join in.

And a good yarn is always better when you have someone to share it with.

The inaugural Festival of Stories runs in Echuca Moama from October 16–18, 2026. Some free events require registration. For the full program and tickets, visit festivalofstories.com.au