COMPILED BY RICHARD CORNISH

Glenlyon Open Vegetable Gardens
Glenlyon has some of the most wonderful, fertile soil on earth. Deep chocolate brown soil in which, according to locals, ‘if you plant toothpicks in the evening, by morning you’ll have fence posts’! Come to this historic village on the banks of the Loddon River on Saturday Feb 10 to see five fertile vegetable gardens of locals Rosie Ashbolt, Edward Benedict, John Cable, Dan Harris and Yvette Reading. They will be showing off their summer crops, from vintage tomatoes and super sweetcorn to delicate lettuce and edible flowers. They will also be selling their produce direct form their gardens. How to turn unforgiving clay soil in rich humus will be a feature of the gardens, as will a demonstration (10:30am-noon) on how to build a wicking bed.
Tickets ($5 per garden) and location info at the Glenlyon Hall or online booking at trybooking.com/TRPU.

Too Many Mirandas
Many locals want the Hanging Rock experience to focus more on its indigenous and natural culture. The urge, however, to celebrate the drama of young lost women as described in Joan Lindsay’s fictitious 1967 work Picnic at Hanging Rock is overwhelming. Named after one of Lindsay’s characters Too Many Mirandas (Feb 24, 3pm-6pm) is a mass Miranda flashmob celebrating our fascination with the mystery. It is also open to anyone. Attend a workshop to rehearse the dance moves or simply turn up to Hanging Rock on the day, dressed as a Victorian school girl and quickly learn the Corset Conga and the Miranda Mirror. The event will be professionally filmed for social media and screened during Council’s 2018 Arts and Culture Season launch at the Kyneton Town Hall in March.
www.mrsc.vic.gov.au

Bress Cider and Swine
Have you been to Bress in Harcourt? Owner Adam Marks is an amazing winemaker, raconteur and a hard-core Francophile who has even built a French inspired chicken coup. A character to say the least during vintage it is not surprising for him to whip off his daks mid winery tour to do some urgent bare foot pigeage  - pressing the cap of the fermenting wine by foot. Anyway – his events are always fun and his Cider and Swine Day on Feb 24 sees him opening up bottles of his own cider that have been on lees for more than five years. Served with spit roast pork as part of a three-course meal with drinks it costs just $65pp. 
Bress Wine and Cider; 3894 Harmony Way, Harcourt; (03)5474 2262;
www.bress.com.au 

Chill Out
For 21 years Chill Out has been celebrating the diversity of the LGBTI culture turning Daylesford and Hepburn into the gender rainbow capital of the nation. The 2018 four-day Labour Weekend event promises to be the best yet, energised by the glorious win of love and reason resulting in Australia’s newfound status as a Marriage Equality nation. Dress in a pink cozzie and head to Daylesford Pool for smooth tunes from the waterside DJ and the smoky funk from frying sausages. The official opening is the Out and Proud Disco featuring a special guest performance by the Australian Kylie Show – I can’t that out of my head! There’s Poof Doof in the Bush, the fabulous Adam Richard presenting a queer comedy night, walks, tours, dinners, dancing, talks and an all-embracing sense of fun and community.
www.chilloutfestival.com.au

Lost Trades Fair
You probably know what a cooper is but do you know what a luthier does for a living? If you’re in Kyneton on the Labour Day long weekend you could learn that a luthier is a person who makes lutes. Lost Trades are the antidote to the modern world. As the threat of automation hangs over society the lost and endangered manual skills of bootmakers, bookbinders, typesetters and sawyers are not only becoming more sought after the careers themselves are becoming more popular. There are nearly 100 different arcane, but highly skilled, trades represented at the Lost Trades Fair. It’s held on a bend of the Campaspe River at the Kyneton Racecourse on March 10 and 11. Entry is $15.
Buy tickets at www.losttrades.info