Leeton SunRice Festival: Unveiling 2026's vibrant Easter program

Get ready for a party this Easter long weekend | Leeton Sun Rice Festival

Special publication The Leeton SunRice Festival is a biennial celebration held over the Easter long weekend, bringing together a diverse program of events that reflect the town's strong agricultural heritage, creative spirit and sense of community.. Across the weekend, Leeton will host a mix of much-loved traditions and contemporary experiences, offering something for all ages.. Festivities begin on Thursday evening with the official Murrumbidgee Irrigation Cocktail Launch Party, a relaxed social occasion that brings together festival supporters, sponsors, community members and Festival Ambassadors ahead of the main weekend program..

This story is from the 2026 edition of Leeton SunRice Festival magazine.. Click here to read the entire publication online.. The evening provides an opportunity to meet and chat with the Ambassadors (when they aren't busy hosting their own fundraising events) and marks the formal start of the festival celebrations..

Easter Saturday is packed with activity, starting with the MIA Cruisers Show 'n' Shine in the morning, followed by The Irrigator Street Parade, one of the festival's most anticipated highlights.. Immediately after the parade, the Beyond Bank Festival on Mountford takes over the park with live entertainment, community and market stalls, rides and family-friendly activities, before the presentation of the Festival Ambassador and Fundraiser awards.. Sunday offers a more relaxed pace, with events including Leeton's Longest Lunch at the Hydro Hotel, a shared dining experience accompanied by live music, and the spectacular MicrotechDPS Balloon Glow at Leeton's No..

1 Ovals.. From mid-afternoon, visitors can enjoy pre-Glow entertainment before hot air balloons illuminate in synchronisation with music, followed by a fireworks display that provides a memorable finale to the day.. The festival winds down on Easter Monday with opportunities to explore Leeton Open Gardens, visit the Penny Paniz Acquisitive Arts Exhibition at the Leeton Museum and Art Gallery, or take part in community activities such as parkrun, providing a relaxed conclusion to the long weekend..

With a strong focus on community participation, accessibility and local pride, the Leeton SunRice Festival continues to be a highlight on the region's events calendar, welcoming locals and visitors alike to celebrate all that makes Leeton unique..