August, 2026

overpromising and underdelivering

Jul 31, 2026

Welcome to the August edition of The Bright Raclette, a monthly community newsletter where we will be sharing upcoming local events, announcements, initiatives and haikus to brighten your day and help you plan your month.

If you keep finding out about fun stuff after it’s already happened… well, that’s exactly why we’re here.

If you are wondering where July went, both in terms of time flying and the handy TBR edition which would have helped you chronicle it… well let’s just say we’re staying true to theme.

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Calling for contributions

TBR is open to submissions. We’ll consider pretty much anything at this point, but to give you a steer please share: love notes, inspirational pictures of your pet and reviews of anything you have experienced recently.

We can’t promise we’ll include your thoughts on the snow season thus far, but heck we’d be interested to hear them.

**If that button isn’t working, email us at bright.raclette@gmail.com

THIS MONTH

Our theme for August is ‘overpromising and underdelivering’ — one which may have been even more appropriate in July when we were so committed to the bit we didn’t deliver anything at all. Much like the snow this year (although things are starting to look up), 21% of Albo’s election promises (still time left), dating apps, or Odysseus promising to make it home in time for dinner, sometimes things just don’t work out quite the way you planned.

Handily, local events bucked the trend and leaned in to overdelivering throughout July. Bright Winter Festival’s ‘Winter in the Village’ delivered more snow than the resorts have seen lately — if only we could ski on bubbles, winter would be sorted — and anything involving chainsaws is clearly a big ol’ win, especially when that chainsaw is carving hunks of ice into friendly Disney characters.

Speaking of both chainsaws and deliveries, TBR is bringing new life (quite literally) to its editorial team in September. Bear with us if our writing gets scrappy. Better yet, if you’ve been granted your pen license, send us a note because we’re on the hunt for a guest editor next month.

👉 Jump to stuff from us: SEE | DO | WATCH | READ | FYI

SEE

August 22 is going to be a busy day.

— one-offs —

Last days | Catch the Winter Exhibition and Ephemera at Bright Art Gallery before they close Aug 3. Thu to Mon, 10am to 4pm.
Aug 1 | Kick off the month with surf-psych trio The Grogans at The Man in Falls Creek, part of The Man Winter Series. Covering the bases of surf, punk, blues, garage, psych, rockabilly and reggae, The Grogans really are doing the most. Supported by The Velvet Club and Des Cortez. 8pm.
Aug 1 | Alternatively, give yourself permission to shine along with Bachelor Girl at The Star in Yack. BBQ meats and 90s beats, yes please. 7.30pm.
Aug 7 & 30 | Pedal vicariously through The Big Bike Film Night at Bright’s Sun Cinema, with a Q&A from director Brett Cotter: all the epic descents, none of the gravel rash. 7pm.
Aug 7 | Fall for the spellbinding Leah Senior and her band at Old Stone Hall, Beechworth, launching her fifth album. 7pm, $40.
Aug 14 | Two-step to country songwriters Sara Storer and Gretta Ziller at the Nicholas Hotel, Beechworth. 7pm.
Aug 16 | Sink in to the Albury Wodonga Symphony Orchestra’s Joyful Dances, an afternoon of dance-inspired orchestral works under artistic director Jessie Swan. The Cube, Wodonga, 2.30pm.
Aug 22 | Catch the Rich Davies trio, with Joyce Prescher and Mandy Connell, at Feather and Drum, Yackandandah. Also, get one of their hats. 7pm.
The presence of a cat in the hat on this poster indicates you are in for an excellent time.

Aug 22 | Raise a glass to The Audreys at the Stanley Pub for 20 years of their debut Between Last Night and Us, played alongside picks from across their catalogue.
Better than two in the bush?
Aug 22 | Dance yourself warm to DJ Brent Honey at The Man, Falls Creek: house, hard house, garage, trance and techno, all fun and wholesome. Supported by Jooki, Tash Poon and Zoe G. 8pm.
Brent Honey is Australia’s most trusted energy provider (self-described). Catch him at The Man, Falls Creek.
Aug 29 | Catch Dutch hard-house DJ BURNR, bring 90s high-octane energy as he polishes his edges. Falls Creek, with the Side Selections crew. 8pm.
Premier architect of the modern hard house revival. See Burnr at The Man, Falls Creek.

—Weekend regs —

FRIDAYS

Star Hotel | Test your wits and then your luck at the weekly trivia and Joker Poker.

SATURDAYS

Harrietville Hotel | Catch blues and roots artist Ash King in Harrietville on the 15th of August. 7.30pm.
Don Mungo’s | Mungo Disco every Saturday from 10pm with DJs from near and far. Catch Shady (Aug 1), Greggy (Aug 8), Mungo’s 5th Birthday Party with Meggie (Aug 15), DJ Zabi (Aug 22) and Tommy b2b Big Phil (Aug 29).
The Man, Falls Creek | Winter Series Saturdays: The Grogans (Aug 1), Brent Honey (Aug 22) and BURNR (Aug 29).

SUNDAYS

Bright Brewery | Join Sunday sessions with Bec Peel and Marty Luke (Aug 2), Mick Cafe (Aug 9), Torpedos (Aug 16), The Kat (Aug 23) and Life Dreamers (Aug 30). 2-5pm.

—sneak peak—

It’s not this month, but events in this section often sell out, so book them now:

Sep 4 | Expect the unexpected at the Cube Fringe Session, The Cube Wodonga’s night of local oddballs: comedy, circus, hula hoops, nunchucks, indie rock and a projection act about social media. MC’d by Alyce Fisher. 6pm, 18+, bound to sell out.
Sep 10 to 19 | Fall for Lovesong, Bright Theatre Company’s spring production. Abi Morgan’s four-decade love story, tender and witty, directed by Cal Waddell with local talent Michael Clayton, Stephanie Frobose, Freya Maberly and Jack Main. 18+. Book early.
Sep 14 | Try to walk away but stumble, over soul great Macy Gray at Albury Entertainment Centre. 8pm.
Oct 8 to 9 | Take one or both of two chances at singer-songwriter Meg Washington on tour: Beechworth Town Hall (Thu 8) and The Butter Factory, Wodonga (Fri 9).
Oct 9 to 11 | Missed out on BFOP? Bright’s Festival of Photography is sold out. You can’t take photos, but pose naturally around town and you might just be a subject.
Oct 29 | Steel yourself for Bell Shakespeare’s Macbeth at WPACC, Peter Evans directing, Anthony Taufa in the title role. 7.30pm, 14+.
Nov 22 | Pile into Mama Kin Spender’s Singing Roadshow with Emily Lubitz, an all-in singalong, song and storytelling bonanza where the whole room becomes the choir. The Butter Factory, Wodonga. 3.30pm.
BYO pipes, it’s singalong time.

👇 Did we miss any gigs? Message us below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com for upcoming gigs or venues we should contact for September/October/November.

DO

The trick to surviving the winter blues is a perpetually full calendar. Let us help you.

Aug 1 | How lucky are we to live during the time of Bright’s first ever Winter Ball? Grab a ticket, throw on that ballgown that’s been sitting in your wardrobe forever, and head down to the Bright Community Centre for live music, silent auction and tasty nibbles from the High Country Chef. 7pm.
Aug 1 | Mount Beauty Market is back! Find pastries, plants, doodads and knicknacks in the Community Hall from 9am-1pm.
Aug 8 | Ski de Femme is an event for people who identify as women, and also identify as needing help with their cross country skiing skills. This free community event has been going since July 1994 and is run by volunteers as a day out on cross country skis for women of all ages and abilities. But no need to take our word for it — relive stalwart reviewer Marj’s 2025 Ski de Femme experience! Register here to move beyond your comfort zone (in a fun way).
Aug 8 | Rummage through the Porepunkah People’s Market, Porepunkah Hall, 9am to 1pm.
Aug 8-9 | The Dinner Plain Dog Sled Sprint is celebrating 210 dog years of snow racing at Dinner Plain (that’s 30 human years, to the layperson). 9am-2pm, please leave your own canine friend at home.
Aug 15 | Strap on your cross country skis to train for the Kangaroo Hoppet, a member of the prestigious Worldloppet series (we swear we are not making these words up).
Aug 15 | Snowshoe Mount Buffalo with AMSG, a guided trail wander from Eurobin Creek Picnic Area. 12 to 3pm.
Aug 15 | Stock up at the Make it, Bake it, Grow it Market, Howitt Park, 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Aug 22 | Slurp and sip with wine and food writers Max Allen and Richard Cornish, The Hungry Gentlemen, for The True Story of Oysters and Champagne at the Stanley Pub. A glass of Gosset and an oyster shooter by the fire, then a garden procession, five freshly shucked oysters and local sparkling and live music to follow.
Aug 22 | The Milawa Cheese Ball promises a night of magic inside a cheese factory. It sounds like the beginning of a very good Pixar movie but do not be fooled! This is a decidedly swanky event: five courses, live jazz, dancing, local wines and good times.
Aug 22 | Fill your basket at the Myrtleford Farmers Market, the Piazza, 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Aug 26 | Bright Brewery’s monthly community keg takes money from your pocket, puts it into the hands of a good cause, BUT SOMEHOW you also get a beer out of it. How good. This time round you’ll be drinking for the benefit of Bright U3A.
Aug 28-30 | The snow might not be showing up in full force for the backcountry this year, but that doesn’t mean you need to follow suit. The Australian Backcountry Festival returns to Mt Hotham from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2026 with a weekend full of tours, workshops, a gear repair cafe, film screenings and evenings filled with stories from globe-trotting riders and environmental advocates - real talk for real snow lovers. So dig out your base layers, bring your buddies up the hill and be part of the growing backcountry community that is 100% volunteer-run and 110% stoked to meet you. Full schedule coming soon, follow link above to stay tuned!
Aug 29 | Lend a hand at the Save Our Snow Gums Survey. Snow gums are under threat from bushfires and the longicorn beetle, and need your support to get them listed as threatened. Contact Lily O'Neill to join or just meet at the Genny, 2-4pm. Kids and families welcome.
Survey the Snow Gums with Protect Our Winters (POW) and Friends of the Earth at Mt Hotham, August 29, 2-4pm.

👇 In the know about an upcoming event? Message us below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com.

WATCH

Cinema | Choose from Bright’s Sun Cinema August releases:

The Christophers (Ian McKellan and Michaela Coel star in what sounds like a complicated art heist gone awry); The Big Bike Film Night (showcasing 2.5 hours of dazzling bike films that have everything a cycle-centric audience could want); One Night Only (imagine if single people were only allowed to hook up on one night of the year, and then try to believe us when we tell you this is a romcom and not a horror film); The Invite (Seth Rogen and Penelope Cruz star as a couple out of their depth in this sharp film from the director of Don’t Worry Darling); Runnation 2026 (documentary film festival for runners and non-runners about running); Holy Days (nuns on a road trip to save their convent), Spa Weekend (does what it says on the tin), The Dog Stars (take us to this post-apocalyptic world where Jacob Elordi flies around in planes please).

If you do see a film, send us your review!

Star-watch | It’s Perseids time, fam! Though not quite as bright in the southern hemisphere as they will be in the north, you should still be able to see some of these friendly meteors as they shower the skies on the 13th-14th.

👇 Saw something you liked? Or didn’t? Submit your own review below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com.

READ

Myrtleford Marjorie’s Monthly Musings

Marj is underdelivering

Marj is attending an accounting course which is siphoning away all of her brain power.

Next month: Marj is showcasing her avoidant attachment style and has left the country. For the foreseeable, she will be hanging out in Montenegro with Christopher and Pixie Skace and crypto mafia bros.

👇 Do you write things? Draw things? Make jokes (that more than one person finds funny, though truly our bar is low and we will probably accept it either way)? Send them to us below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com

FYI

In exciting news, Old Stone Hall (Beechworth legends) has a second home. They’ve teamed up with Albury-Wodonga's HotHouse to run a new live music series at The Butter Factory, a 200-seat heritage venue on Gateway Island, right on the Melbourne-to-Sydney tour run. Expect the same warm, up-close listening, with first shows this spring.
THE BUTTER FACTORY: The heart of regional arts. Old Stone Hall x HotHouse Theatre.
Volunteering comes in many forms. In this case, Bright Theatre Company needs a new suit. Volunteer yours! There probably won’t be a tax cut involved. You’ll also look 5% less like a person who understands tax cuts.
Got suit jackets? The Bright Theatre Company is looking for a jacket with these vibes to fit a 6’2” man.