Published on Friday, 20 March 2026 at 1:16:17 PM
Bridgetown and Greenbushes will come alive with history this April as part of the Southern Forests and Valleys Heritage Festival, running from Saturday, 18 April to Sunday, 26 April 2026. The festival won the 2025 WA Heritage Award for Heritage Tourism and is supported by the Heritage Council of WA. It brings communities together to celebrate the stories, places, and people that have shaped the region
The festival opens with the Puzzletown6255 Open Day on Saturday, 18 April (10 am–2 pm), offering visitors the chance to explore the gallery and experience the recent renovations that have breathed new life into this much-loved local building. Sunday, 19 April features a full day of activities, beginning with a Classic Car Show and Parade. Vehicles will gather at River Park before departing at 9 am for a scenic drive through Bridgetown and Greenbushes. They will return to Bridgetown and be on display at the Spencer Street carpark (opposite the Visitor Centre) from 11:30 am–1 pm, giving visitors the chance to get up close to a range of classic and interesting cars. Later that day, the Bridgetown Town Hall will host a special Vintage Movie Matinee and festival launch, presented by the Shire of Bridgetown–Greenbushes. From 2 pm–4 pm, audiences can enjoy the beloved classic Lassie Come Home (1943), the first Lassie film starring a young Elizabeth Taylor, on the same site where picture shows have been enjoyed since the 1910s.
The program features a mix of free and low-cost events throughout the week. Visitors can take advantage of free entry days at the Bridgetown Police Station Museum and Orcharding Museum on Wednesday, 22 April (10 am–3 pm) and Saturday, 25 April (10 am–1 pm). The Police Station Museum provides a powerful look at the region’s past, including early policing and the impacts of settlement on the Pibelmen, Wadandi, and Kaneang First Nations people. It has been recognised for its honest approach to presenting this history. Also on Wednesday, 22 April, local author Sarah Evans will host a free Memoir Writing Workshop at the Bridgetown Library (10:30 am–12:30 pm, bookings required). History continues on Thursday, 23 April, with an Anzac Heroes Talk at Memorial Park at 11 am, presented by the Bridgetown Historical Society (bookings required). The community will come together for Anzac Day Services on Saturday, 25 April, with a Dawn Service in Greenbushes at 6 am (Thomson Park) and a service in Bridgetown at 10 am (Cenotaph, Memorial Park).
The festival concludes on Sunday, 26 April, with a full day of activities. In Greenbushes, families can join the Anzac-themed Ghost Walk with Ada the Friendly Ghost at 10 am (Thomson Park) and enjoy free entry to the Greenbushes Discovery Centre from 10 am–2 pm. In Bridgetown, visitors can relax at Devonshire Teas at Peninsula House, a heritage home and gardens, with the CWA serving traditional teas from 10 am–2 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for National Trust members, and $5 for children (12 and under). All venues will also be open during their regular hours throughout the festival, with standard entry fees applying outside of the advertised free days.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor, the Southern Forests and Valleys Heritage Festival offers a unique opportunity to connect with the vibrant history and enduring spirit of our region. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the stories that define Bridgetown and Greenbushes. Be sure to visit the Festival Website to book your tickets today.
Back to All News