Bellingen To Host Three Day Music Festival In Support Of Dwindling Turtle Population

Raising awareness for the dwindling numbers of the Bellingen River Snapping Turtles, Turtlefest is set to bring three days of music and art with a focus on the environment. 20 minutes out of Coffs Harbour, the surrounding scenery has been a place for festivals for the past 25 years.

This festival will see headlining acts such as Mark Seymour (of Hunters & Collectors) & the Undertow, Katie Noonan, Abby Dobson, The Crooked Fiddle Band, The Snowdroppers, Winterbourne, Woodes, Bears With Guns, Emily Wurramurra, Friday Night Beats Sessions and many more featured over three days from 30 September — 2 October.

The all-ages festival will also feature interactive sculptures, workshops, various food stalls, multiple sidestages and family-friendly zones.

Festival director Ben Perrim says, "Turtlefest is about generating awareness through a festival platform, for the unprecedented sudden devastation of this little native turtle (now critically endangered) … and also donate a percentage of proceeds to various programs in support of this unique turtle species, only found in the Bellinger River (Myuchelys georgesi)."