With a world-class line-up of local, national and international artists from a variety of genres, it's easy to forget Woodford Folk Festival is more than just music.
Connect with yourself and the wider Woodford community on a deeper level when you explore the truly staggering programme of workshops, activities and festivities on offer.
From the traditional welcome ceremony on the first evening to the flaming grand finale that brings it to a spectacular close, Woodford Folk Festival aims to be an all-inclusive cultural hub that greatly broadens its visitors' horizons.
The Speakers & Ideas portion compiles a small army of experts and professionals from fields as diverse as global change, the environment, science, ecological justice, gardening, technology, sustainability and more, all imparting and sharing their knowledge.
The guy everyone wishes was their high school science teacher, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki will be on hand to spread the good word about science and its benefits, or get some dirt under your nails with a gardening workshop from Costa Georgiadis. Maybe you want to try your hand at urban beekeeping or learn how to save the Earth with seaweed in marine permaculture.
Of course, Woodford again strives to maintain its connection to the heritage of the Australian landscape with a series of events preserving our community and culture. How do we reconcile our history with our future? What can we learn from the traditional owners and elders who came before? Tap into the songlines and discover more about where we live from local and national Indigenous representatives.
It's not all learning and serious stuff either, in fact Woodford boasts a massive comedy and spoken word programme that is set to tickle those funny bones. Join the Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary, a fictitious amateur writer's group full of oddball characters with fake hair, fake lashes and a real passion for bosom-heaving, lip-quivering romance literature.
Or perhaps you prefer the antics of award-winning comedy trio Noughty Girls, the techno fear Yianni Agisilaou rails against in 'I, Human' or the number-crunching comedy of Suren Jayemanne.
So you've seen the bands you want to see, learned all you can and have had your sides split, what now? Hit the streets of Woodfordia and enjoy the perpetual onslaught of top street and circus performers, of course.
A simple stroll through the hamlet of Woodfordia could bring you face-to-face with the one-man band phenomenon Uptown Brown, the non-verbal mask theatre of The Mask Family, the slackline skills of Bruise Brothers or any number of weird, whacky and wonderful artists devoted to the craft of street entertainment.
There is also a range of other activities such as guided tours, meditation sessions, culinary and cooking classes, markets, visual arts workshops, and there's always plenty to eat and drink.
In 2018, Woodford Folk Festival brings together the seemingly disparate into a celebration of unity and togetherness that strives to keep us connected to each other and the world around us.
Woodford Folk Festival takes place at Woodfordia (Sunshine Coast) 27 December 2018-1 January 2019.
