RV Friendlies & Events

Event date: 11 April - 19 April 2026 

This years event promises to be a bigger-than-ever, amazing spectacle with balloons lighting up the night sky at the Cabonne Community Glow.

This experience includes Night Markets complete with Food and Wine Stalls, Live Music, Entertainment and the highlight of the evening, the Cabonne Community Glow - a magical experience where you'll see hot air balloons lighting up their burners synced to all-new music under the beautiful evening skies in the Central West.

The glow from the balloons is spectacular and will leave all who attend with great memories for years to come.

Event date: 10 - 16 May 2027

One may ponder,  what does Kernewek Lowender mean or what does it represent?

Kernewek Lowender means “Cornish Happiness”.

Cornish Happiness is what the Cornish migrants discovered when they migrated to the towns of Moonta, Kadina & Wallaroo. 

Why do we hold a festival biennially to celebrate this one may ask?  

We celebrate the traditions, culture, and heritage of our Cornish ancestors.

The Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival is a beloved staple on the events calendar of both Yorke Peninsula and South Australia.

The festival week sees tens of thousands of people gather to celebrate Cornish heritage and traditions, while enjoying the best of the region’s food and beverage, culture, and of course, welcoming hospitality.

Event date - 1 - 3 May 2026

The Festival of Outback Skies is a three day event that includes a range of activities including a bull ride, arts and craft workshops. Markets, cooking demonstrations, live music, a fine dining dinner under the stars, lantern parade to name a few.

Volunteer Opportunities 

Seeking volunteers to participate in a range of roles from administration, bar sales, traffic direction, showing people to their campsites, waitering, art workshops, minibus shuttle drivers and site set up. Volunteers receive a free powered camping site and entry to all ticketed events (except the dinner) To register your interest as a volunteer, please go to the festival website and fill out a volunteer application under the get involved tab. For all enquires contact Jennifer Tasker at tdo@flinders.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4741 2971.

Festival Location

The festival site is spread across three precincts all within 500m of each other. The site is also walking distance from the Hughenden CBD. The Hughenden Showgrounds will host the Dinner Under the Stars and the Bull Ride events, with live music, art workshops, cooking demos and more. The Art Sculpture Trail at the historic Coolabah Tree will showcase sculptural pieces entered into our Art Sculptural Competition. At the Hughenden Recreational Lake you can enjoy star gazing, water sports and food markets. The closing lantern parade is alongside the lake before they are released across the water.

Getting There

Hughenden and surrounds are serviced by rail, plane and bus routes and is a very accessible destination for those who prefer self-drive. There are five major roads entering Hughenden, from the north, south, east and west. Situated on the Overlander’s Way approximately half-way between Townsville and Mount Isa, the Hughenden region is a hub for many destinations.

Festival Camping

Flinders Shire Council have powered and unpowered sites available at the festival site. The sites do have access to toilets and showers. Powered sites are $90 for three nights (max 4 people per site), and unpowered sites are $45 for 2 nights (max 4 people). 

Festival Glamping 

For the ultimate accommodation experience at the festival treat yourself to a glamping tent located on the banks of the Flinders River. These glamping tents are next level luxury in camping. Six meter high European Bells tents with quality bedding, chairs, floor rugs, side tables, lights, phone charging station and a welcome pack. You also have a concierge 24/7 to look after your needs. The glamping tents are located a short walk across the river to the festival site. 3 nights twin share is $1,450. An additional queen bed can be rented for your tent to increase capacity to four people.