LIVE MUSIC

ALL WEEKEND

We’ve got live music covered! From Friday night through to Sunday afternoon enjoy music by Chev Wilson, Hannah Rose, Trevor Night, Country Slingers and the contestants in the Kicking Up Dust Talent Quest. Our special headline act is Tennessee Lights back by popular demand, on Saturday night on the main stage. And entry to the event is FREE thanks to our sponsor the Community Bank Gympie District.

Generously supported by Matrix Steel & the Community Bank Gympie District

Socials Photo Sharing Competition

ALL WEEKEND

Participate in our Socials Photo Sharing Competition on Facebook and/or Instagram & go in the draw to win one of four $100 cash prizes.

Barrel Racing

Friday 11 April 2025

It’s fast, furious and fun! Watch the girls and guys battle it out to see who’s fastest around those three drums under lights in the indoor arena on Friday night.

FRIDAY NIGHT ROAST DINNER

Friday 11 April 2025

Join us for a roast dinner to be served undercover at the Campdraft Bar from 6.00pm on Friday 11 April 2025. There’ll be a selection of roast meat, vegetables and gravy, served with a dinner roll. The main course will be followed by a dessert. Find out MORE

Generously supported by Foodworks Goomeri

Layered sponge cake on a cake stand with child's hand dusting cake with icing sugar.

QCWA COOKERY CONTEST

Friday 11 April 2025

Just like the EKKA! The Queensland CWA is hosting a cookery competition with 3 sections: baking, preserves and children’s. Find out more

Image courtesy vicagshows.com.au

dog high jump

11 April 2025 - 5.00pm - Campdraft Arena Precinct

We’re thrilled to add this exciting event to our program in 2025. 

The Dog High Jump is open to all breeds of dog, big & small. Dog safety is an important consideration, so be assured we’ll look after your furry friend. Entry is FREE, and can be made online.

Registration prior to the event is mandatory and a waiver form must be completed and submitted.

There are 2 height categories: dogs under 50cm, followed by dogs over 50cm.

There will be a $150 cash prize for each division winner plus ribbons for placegetters.

Generously sponsored by: 

working dog demonstration

Saturday 12 April 2025 - Indoor Arena

If you enjoy ‘Muster Dogs’ you’ll be fascinated to see the real thing in action. Watch and learn how these highly trained dogs work sheep (and maybe ducks) for their handler and make the job look easy! 

Roping Demonstration

Saturday 12 April 2025 - 10-11am - Indoor Arena

Kilkivan Performance Horse Association will be giving a roping demonstration from horseback and on the ground. Get involved and test your skill at swinging a lariat! 

Mechanical Bull

Saturday 12 April 2025 - Indoor Arena

Almost as thrilling as the real thing! Test your rodeo skills on the mechanical bull and challenge your friends to go the 8 seconds! Set up near the Undercover Arena Saturday night.

Two hands holding up a white care with the word BINGO written on it in brown colour

Bingo - QWCA

Saturday 12 April 2025 - Under the marquee

Come and play a fun game of bingo with us. Prizes to be won!
$10 books (6 games per page) $5 books (3 games per page).
Check program for playing times.

STREET MARKETS

Saturday 12 April 2025 - Main Street Kilkivan

This year, the street markets will be held in the Lion’s Park in the main street of Kilkivan from 10am to 4pm.
The markets are being coordinated by the Kilkivan Community Garden & Railway Markets Project Inc. 
Food – coffee – market stalls – distillery – artisan bread – laser tag & skateboarding workshops – kids’ zone and much more …
Culminating in the KGHR iconic main street parade at 4pm.
 

drovers camp oven cook-off

Saturday 12 April 2025

Inspired by the cooks who supported the drovers in days gone by, we’ve invited camp oven cooks to compete in a cook-off making billy tea & scones, butteri pizza, and a drover’s stew.
Watch the cooks as they create their culinery masterpieces and present them before the judges.

Generously supported by Compact Campfires, Coast n Smoke, Kilkivan Meats, Leatherman, Equine Stable Solutions and Foodworks Goomeri.

HEAVY HORSE DEMONSTRATION

12 & 13 April 2025 - Campdraft Arena

Step back in time & enjoy watching how the ‘old timers’ used to work the land with the Clydesdale horse before the tractor became popular. 

Liberty demonstration with brooke wild

12 & 13 April 2025 - Indoor Arena & Campdraft Arena

Talented young Sunshine Coast teenager Brooke Wild brings her brumby Finn, kelpie Poppy, and Flood the steer to the Kilkivan indoor arena to perform a series of tricks.

COB & CO CARRIAGE RIDES

Saturday & Sunday 12 & 13 April 2025

One of Australia’s premier carriage drivers, Brenden Trace, will be bringing his team of horses and a Cobb & Co coach offering carriage rides throughout the weekend.
Yellow, red, blue and green paint on a canvas with paint brushes in a glass container in front.

paint & sip

Saturday & Sunday 12 & 13 April 2025

Paint n Sip – sponsored by Clovely Estate 

Hosted by Woolooga Hall Community Group.

$30pp per session includes all materials, nibbles and a complimentary glass of wine. Sorry no BYO permitted. 

1 daily session Saturday 1pm and Sunday 10am only.

Places capped to 20 people, first in best dressed! 

Book direct by TEXTING 0417 761 563 with name and day booking request is for.

cent auction

Drawn Sunday 13 April 2025

💰💰WIN – WIN – WIN 💰💰
There’s more than 40 prizes up for grabs in the KGHR Cent Auction. Click here for the details.
 

bush poetry

Sunday 13 April 2025 - Campdraft Bar

Join ‘The Baralaba Bloke’ John Bidgood at the Campdraft Bar for some bush poetry and good yarns.

Enter the bush poetry competition with a chance to win a prize, have your poem performed in front of a live audience AND see it published on our website until the 2026 Kilkivan Great Horse Ride. 

kicking up dust youth talent quest

Sunday 13 April 2025 - 9am - 11am

Discover the premier talent of the region’s young performers at the 2025 Kicking Up Dust Youth Talent Quest. 
The contest is open to young people 21 years and under and, if 2024’s line-up was anything to go by, you’ll be amazed and entertained.
The talent quest will be judged by Golden Guitar-winning country musician Josh Arnold. Josh is well known in regional areas for producing the Small Town Culture original songs and videos with schools, including our very own special offering from Kilkivan in 2015.
If you are a performer interested in entering the quest then click here.
 

Generously supported by Matrix Steel.