What's On

Join Orange author Hayley Rawsthorne for a heartwarming storytime adventure as she brings her beloved children's book These Little Feet to life! Perfect for young readers and their families, this special event will feature a reading of the book, fun activities, and an opportunity to connect with the author behind the story. Come celebrate the magic of little feet, big dreams, and the joy of storytelling in this interactive, family-friendly event! These Little Feet was named in Better Reading’s Top 50 kids books for 2025.

Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival, May 22 - 25, 2025 Bathurst Writers & Readers Festival returns for another year, in conjunction with Sydney Writers’ Festival. The Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival is an annual literary event presented by BMEC Local Stages program in collaboration with Bathurst Library, Arts OutWest and Books Plus, Bathurst. The Festival is bringing back all your favourites, including Opening Night event, focus panels, in-discussions, Sydney Writers Festival live streams and of course The Great Festival Read. (with plenty more good stuff in-between!)

Announcing the 2025 Stella Prize winner in a special event at Sydney Writers’ Festival - Livestreamed to the Bathurst Writers' & Readers' Festival  Stella is a leading advocate for gender equity and cultural change in Australian literature. Since its inception in 2012, Stella has championed the work of Australian women and non-binary writers with its flagship program, the prestigious Stella Prize. This annual literary award celebrates writing that is original, excellent and engaging.

There’s always so many terrific books that we miss reading whilst we’re reading other wonderful books! Enjoy hearing Jen Barry and Lisa Holloway as they chat about some of the great books you may have missed over the past year, along with some to look forward to in the second half of the year.

With the recent explosion of romance books hitting the shelves, join two of Australia’s unique voices for a conversation on writing modern Australian romances. Join Melanie Saward and  Leesa Ronald for an exciting book talk centered on contemporary love stories. Melanie’s Love Unleashed explores the complexities of modern relationships and the transformative power of love, while Leesa’s Special Delivery takes readers on a heartfelt journey of unexpected romance, second chances, and personal growth.

For tens of thousands of years, First Nations oral traditions have carried history, law, culture, and identity across generations. In this insightful panel, Wiradyuri knowledge holders and scholars will explore the profound role of oral knowledge in preserving and passing on cultural heritage. From stories, songs, and ceremonies to language revitalisation, cultural practices, and the protection of sacred sites, knowledge holders are vital custodians of Wiradyuri traditions. Join us for a powerful conversation that challenges the dominance of written records and celebrates the enduring wisdom of storytelling as a source of knowledge and truth.

This hugely popular feature of the local program sees book lovers reading the same book in the lead-up to the Festival weekend. Read the book then attend the event where a panel discusses the book selected for each year. For 2025, the Great Festival Read is Purple Threads by Jeanine Leane. The panel conversation will be between women leaders in our community.

Dr. Stephen Gapps’s latest book Uprising focuses on the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance and reveals just how widespread and coordinated Aboriginal resistance was across eastern Australia during the early 1800s. Join us for Dr Gapps in conversation with local historian Sarah Swift as they delve into the importance of confronting difficult histories to better understand our shared past.