Walking Thomastown 2025

Next date: Saturday, 30 August 2025 | 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Walking Thomastown web banner

Take a magical nighttime journey through the culture and history of Thomastown. Experience one of our oldest suburbs in a new light.

This is a free event to attend and no bookings are required.

Highlights

Gather at dusk and explore the world around you as you walk from Main Street Recreation Reserve, along Edgars Creek, through Ziebell’s Farm and the pioneer precinct at Westgarthtown. 

Grab your torch and walking shoes and join us on a nighttime walk exploring Thomastown’s rich and unique history.

Activities

  • Neon lighting, including the return of the Neon Dog Park 
  • Projection art from emerging and First Peoples artists 
  • Large-scale, colourful light installations along the walking trail 
  • Live performances, including cultural dance and local, young musicians 
  • Food vans and hot drinks to keep you warm 
  • Fire-twirlers, stilt walkers, face painters and much more. 

Walking map

The walking trail is approximately 2km round-trip (an easy 30-minute walk).

Download the walking map(PDF, 9MB)

Walking Thomastown 2025 walking map

Live digital art projection artists

Featured artists at this year's Walking Thomastown event include:

Alex Kerr

Alex Kerr is a proud Wurundjeri man and Melbourne-born artist deeply connected to his culture and heritage. 

With a background in construction management, Alex brings a unique blend of technical expertise and cultural storytelling to his work. He is known for his vibrant murals and digital designs that celebrate and embed First Nations culture in contemporary spaces.

His collaborations include Melbourne United, Development Victoria, and Housing Victoria. For Walking Thomastown 2025, Alex created digital artworks of Bunjil and Waa to symbolise creation, protection, and cultural presence on Wurundjeri Country.

Picture of Alex Kerr

The Backyard Banjo Club

The Backyard Banjo Club hail from northern Melbourne and serve up a chaotic, charming blend of banjo, violin, accordion, saxophone, and bass. Their sound swings from upbeat to sultry, always delivered with a wink and a wild sense of fun - think Wes Anderson meets Quentin Tarantino at a late-night festival set. 

From sell-out shows in Melbourne to folk clubs and major festivals across the country, including Woodford, Yackandandah, and Tablelands Folk Festivals, they bring sharp instrumental finesse, tongue-in-cheek banter, and irresistible energy to every stage. 

The Backyard Banjo Club performers

Born in a Taxi

Award-winning physical theatre company Born in a Taxi present Higher Order at Walking Thomastown 2025.

Higher Order are mascots of higher consciousness and masters of ceremony. Charged with setting the tone, they guide an audience from intimate one on one sensory experiences to collective play, creating spontaneous mesmerising choreography as they move. Able to bring the gravitas of ritual and the lightness of play to reunite us with our senses.  

Sometimes humorous, always majestic and deeply respectful with a hint of mischief.

Theatre company Born in a Taxi performers

Jack Lee

Jack is a Chinese Malaysian artist based in Naarm/Melbourne, working across photography, moving image, mixed media, and digital art. His practice explores migration, displacement, and diasporic identity, often focusing on how those outside dominant racial, gender, and sexual narratives navigate mainstream culture. For Jack, art is both resistance and redefinition. 

He was awarded the 2022 Midsumma x Australia Post Art Award and named the 2024 Artist-in-Residence at the Centre for Projection Art. His public commissions include work for the cities of Melbourne, Hobart, Merri-bek, Whittlesea, and Kingston. Recent highlights include screenings at Federation Square, Malthouse Theatre, and the St Kilda Film Festival. 

Picture of Jack Lee

Jo Clyne

Jo began studying magic in 2007 and has carved out a distinct story-based performance style, often using real historical artefacts in her acts. Recent shows include 'Lobster Telephone' and 'Unusual Objects'.  

Jo is a regular performer at the Melbourne Magic Festival, Magicians at Work, Book Week, Ballarat Heritage Festival and the Gothic Goldfields Festival. Her most recent clients include the Stamford Plaza Hotel, Beleura House and Garden, Forbes Shire Council (NSW) and Melton City Council. She is delighted to be back for her third year at Walking Thomastown.

Picture of Jo Clyne

Uptown Brown performs

Uptown Brown is a singing gentleman-adventurer performing a roving program of primitive 1920’s-1930’s jazz and blues on a self invented one man band. A wily mix of connivance and stuff from the shed, his contraption is built from cedar, leather and brass.  

Vocals and fingerpicked ukulele are amplified through old megaphones, mimicking the effect of a 78 record. Keep an eye and an ear out at Walking Thomastown.

Picture of Uptown Brown

Watch the video from last year’s event to see all the exciting activities you can expect this year.

 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Are the pathways wheelchair accessible?

The section between Main Street Recreation Reserve and the Lalor Scout Hall features a wide, even path that is accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Plenty of parking is available close to the starting point at Main Street Recreation Reserve. Access to the Westgarthtown Historic Precinct is via an unsealed path and not recommended for wheelchairs.

Are there restrooms along the trail?

Yes, restrooms are marked on the map and located at the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavillion, Westgarthtown Historic Precinct and Ziebell’s Farmhouse and Museum.

Are there white strobe lighting or flashing effects?

There are no strobe lights involved.  Some of the lighting installations include moving lights.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. Dogs are welcome (on a leash).

Can I get involved?

We always love to engage with our community in the development and delivery of events. If you’d like to be involved in this, or any future events, please contact the Arts, Culture and Events team at eventsartsandculture@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Can I take pictures?

Yes! We’d love to see your pictures. If you’re posting on Instagram, feel free to tag us @citywhittlesea or use the hashtag #WalkingThomastown to share your discoveries with the community.

Do I need to bring anything?

The trail is lit and event staff and security will be present to ensure a smooth and safe evening, however, we recommend bringing some warm, wet-weather clothes and a torch.

Emergency Management

Security and site wardens will be stationed across the site wearing orange high visibility jackets.  Please speak with them to report any emergency.

First Aid

First aid services will be moving across the event site. Any emergencies should be reported to security or a site warden.  First Aid is also available at the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavilion.

How do I get to Walking Thomastown?

As a walking event, we recommend taking public transport and/or walking. The walk begins at Main Street Reserve Thomastown, via Main Street behind the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre or at Ziebell’s Farmhouse and Museum.

How long is the trail?

Approximately 2km round-trip (an easy 30-minute walk).

How much does it cost?

It’s free to attend the event. All activities are free. There are some food and hot drink options available for purchase.

How much time should we allow for this event?

The event runs from 6pm – 9pm. You are welcome to stay and explore for the entire duration, but we recommend allowing a minimum of one hour to complete the trail and enjoy the art and activations along the way.

How should I dress for the event?

Be prepared for cold and wet weather! Be sure to wear sturdy shoes for walking. The path is paved up until German Lane, where it could get muddy.

Is there parking available?

Yes, there is limited public parking available at the Main Street Recreational Reserve and the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre.

Lost Property

Our information tent is located at the Main Street Reserve Playground for lost property.

Photography, Media and Filming

This event will be captured by our photographers and videographers for use on social media and in City of Whittlesea marketing materials. By attending the event, you are agreeing to have your image used for these purposes. If you would not like your image captured, simply let one of our friendly staff know.

What food options are available?

Handheld food is available from the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavilion, Thomas Street Playground and Westgarthtown Historic Precinct.

Stall name  Location 
Twisted Temptations Thomas Street
Pizza Forno X'Press Thomas Street
Balkan Bites Thomas Street
Nepalese Community Kitchen Thomas Street
Chatime  Amplify Stage
For Fudge Sake Reserve Stage
Bilbo Snaggins Reserve Stage

What happens if it’s raining?

The event will go ahead as planned, some acts or installations may be modified for wet weather. Please bring some wet-weather clothing.

What times are the performances?

There are performance spaces and roving acts across the event site.  Please refer to the event program for a full list of performances and times. 

Where is the nearest public transportation?

The event is approximately a 10-minute walk from Thomastown Railway Station. The 357 bus route also stops at the Main Street Recreational Reserve.

Who can attend?

Anyone can attend Walking Thomastown. All activities, performances, installations and activations are family-friendly and appropriate for all ages.

When

  • Saturday, 30 August 2025 | 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Location

Main Street Recreation Reserve, 54-76 Main Street, Thomastown, 3074, View Map

Google Map

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