Rochester is hosting a vibrant week of festivals, starting with the Rochester Mural Festival this weekend. Sips and Sounds festival will follow, featuring music, art, workshops and local markets.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Rochester is set to burst into colour and creativity as four big events combine for one of the biggest weeks on the local calendar, kicking off this weekend with the Rochester Mural Festival.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
As part of the conclusion of the 2026 Rochester Mural Festival, Sips and Sounds will bring music, sips, art and fun into the heart of Rochester.
The Sips and Sounds festival kicks off with workshops and the town market from 9am on Saturday, March 28, with music filling the streets and venues throughout the weekend.
Rochester Business Network president Sanjay Ranchhod said the event aimed to bring people together for a common cause: music, art, fun and supporting the community after the floods.
He emphasised that the hospitality in Rochester was second to none and predicted that visitors would find it exceeded what was expected of the town.
“We will be welcoming people from around Victoria, around Australia to Rochester,” Mr Ranchhod said.
“You will find what people say about Rochy is that everybody is so warm, so friendly.
“The Sips and Sounds festival is a festival that will bring people together.”
The main Sips and Sounds event takes place on Saturday, March 28, from 1pm to 5pm across various venues.
Visitors can wander the streets, pop into businesses, meet teams from wineries and distilleries, sip their products, shop local and enjoy discovering something new.
“All the local shops will be open for the Sips and Sounds on Saturday, March 28, and you will be able to pop in and sip from different vendors,” Mr Ranchhod said.
“You can taste wine, whiskey, vodka, so pop in and see what everyone has to offer.”
The weekend features extensive family entertainment, including kids’ activities from noon on Saturday with trampolines, hair braiding and airbrush tattoos behind the Shamrock Hotel.
Rochester Business Network president Sanjay Ranchhod said the event aimed to bring people together for a common cause.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
A collaborative graffiti artwork session runs from 12:30pm to 5:30pm at the Skate Park, while bubble workshops with the Bendigo Bubble Man take place at Wirrima Park from 1pm to 4pm.
Festivalgoers shouldn’t miss the monster raffle, offering $8000 in gold as the major prize.
The weekend concludes on Sunday, March 29, with live music from Billie Aitken-McGregor at The Rochester Hotel from 3pm to 5pm.
The Rochester Mural Festival, Sips and Sounds festival, Creative Seeds Exhibition and Ripple Fest will run between Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 29.
To find out more, search Visit Rochester Victoria on Facebook.
