Daffodils are surely the optimists of the flower world. The first of the daffodil blooms signal the start of spring each year, with the perky trumpet-shaped flowers popping out of the ground in 50 shades of yellow. And every year the town of Kyneton celebrates the butter-coloured blooms with a festival.
The Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival is a ten-day floral fair that combines open gardens and flower shows with visual art, music, markets and performances. But first flowers. There are six open gardens in Kyneton and 11 in the neighbouring regions. If you want to leave your car at home you can hop on a bus tour.
Launching the festival this year will be the Daffodil Art Prize: an exhibition of works all featuring daffodils. The town also puts on plays, cabaret performances, a highland dance competition, a big band concert and gala daffodil dance. Four-legged flower fans can also get involved with ferret racing and the Kyneton Dog Dash (an open-breed race).
The festival’s big finish is a grand parade through the town. Expect daffodil-themed costumes, floats, vintage cars, musicians, dancers and performers to take over the streets of Kyneton.
The Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival runs from Thursday, September 5 to Sunday, September 15.
