Clunes Booktown Festival – Ivor.Plumber/Poet

Photos From Our Time in Booktown.

Photos From Our Time in Booktown.

Friday afternoon
Was set‑up time for both the Bookstall Vendors and the Food Vendors — a quiet buzz of preparation before the weekend unfolded.

Saturday:
Was all about settling in and getting to know our fellow book vendors in Marquee T — Robert, Janette, Suzanne & Karen, Collin, and Lynette.

Although officially “T”, we were affectionately nicknamed the Zombie Marquee, thanks to Robert’s eye‑catching banner at the entrance.

Of course, my assistant salesman was the true star attraction of my bookstall.

Down at ground level, under the tables, Frankie and the little girl next door — tucked beneath her dad’s table of books — became fast friends.

Every now and then, we wandered through the festival to soak up the wonderful carnival atmosphere.

There was dancing in the streets, violin music drifting from a balcony, giant book readers roaming about, and even Larry the Lizard slithered into our tent to say hello.

Sunday brought another magical day of sunshine, stories, and festival energy.
If you have Facebook, hopefully the link below will open for you:
>> https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffb.watch%2FF-r0NXVzFK%2F%3Ffs%3De%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExam42MWJ1a0lvdmZHajNkSHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6zEi-V3RRYcEtu31mWJm9y9GYGr7MJi0z2aH6k___S3IhogIluLB69kOw15A_aem_EbG9tWQj2hbxUzTPQdLTIQ&h=AT6GGOr3lyKaFT5AxusRGenQaPeF_uot1i_Kf4PGHX5pxXJ7M-5nUBolH71yQCOvD6KfzPCEEXsB_aU7b03SJKwu2kSqsNDQ_oZp0bYIeQvge89RYUfgAw_PfdlA-Ii9_NTMKg

After a magical weekend in Booktown, the wagon rolls home with tired feet and happy hearts.

And as the last notes fade, we carry Booktown home with us — tired feet, full hearts, and memories that will linger long after the carnival is over.

Ivor Steven © March 2026

Clunes Booktown Festival 2026

All the Essentials are packed
Clunes, here we come!

The Clunes Booktown Festival, one of Australia’s largest and most-loved literary gatherings, celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. I’ll be there this weekend, March 21st and 22nd, set up in one of the bustling Book Trader Marquees (Fraser St, Marquee “T”) with Frankie beside me, proudly taking on his role as assistant salesman and crowd‑greeter. With the days full of books, conversations, and festival buzz, I won’t be blogging much over the weekend — but once we’re back home and the dust has settled, I’ll share a few stories and photos from our time in Booktown.

As always, it should be a wonderful weekend in Booktown, and I’m looking forward to sharing a few highlights once Frankie and I return.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend — and if you’re heading to Clunes, do stop by and say hello.

Ivor Steven © March 2026

Clunes Booktown Festival, A Three Day Picture-book Story

Friday, 2.00 pm, we are packed and ready to go …

Friday, 4.30 pm: The Marquees in the town’s main street are all set up, and we organize our stall in marquee “Q.”

Saturday just before sunrise our day begins, and the Festival is only a 20-minute drive away, and we meet the other vendors in our marquee.

Below: Stacey, Helena, Hollie & Rose, and fellow poet Jacinta & her baby

And we met many more other Authors on our walks around the festival.

Sunday was not as busy as Saturday, so I had more time to wander around and I took some photos, trying to capture the festival and the town’s charming country atmosphere …