The Victorian Government is making sure more regional communities across Victoria can attract, stage and deliver sporting, cultural and entertainment events on their doorstop, with new grants set to attract thousands of visitors, create more jobs and back local businesses across the state.

Grants of up to $500,000 will be open to organisers of festivals, sports events, exhibitions and more to attract and grow events of international or national significance while grants of up to $50,000 will be available for marketing and support of events that attract intrastate and interstate visitors.

Tourism, Sport and Major Events minister Steve Dimopoulos visited Ballarat recently to announce the new Food, Fire and Light Festival which will light up Sovereign Hill this October and announce the latest round of the Labor Government’s $38 million Regional Events Fund.

We know the value of regional events just like the Food, Fire and Light Festival to local communities and the people who work across our tourism, events, and hospitality businesses in the regions.

Since 2016, the Government’s Regional Events Fund has supported more than 350 events across regional Victoria.

From the Riverboats Music Festival on the Murray, Lost Trades Fair in Bendigo, Great Ocean Road Running Festival, Grampians Grape Escape, the East Gippsland Winter Festival, ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, and Ballarat Marathon, we’re making sure Victoria’s jam-packed calendar of events is enjoyed by every community throughout the state.

The government’s support for regional events across the state is a key pillar of Victoria’s $37.8 billion visitor economy.

The Regional Events Fund provides strong economic benefit by attracting more people to visit the regions, expanding the length of time visitors stay in the area, and increasing the amount of money spent in local communities.

Applications for the Regional Events Fund, delivered by Visit Victoria, are now open at corporate.visitvictoria.com/events/regional-events