The Nathalia New Year’s Eve festival was full of fun, with crowds enjoying everything from collectible cars to camels, ponies and even daggy dancing.

Nathalia and Barmah Business and Tourism event co-ordinator Wayne Limbrick said there was an excellent crowd, with more than 3000 people attending the festival.

“It was at least as good last year, which was the best one we’ve ever had,” he said.

“There was a lot of interest in the show and shine event along the creek and then on the creek itself, we had Golden Valley Radio Control Boat Club.”

The show and shine event was held along the foreshore and allowed people to show off their collectible cars and motorbikes.

“We had little radio-controlled speed boats, and they were racing them up and down the creek in behind the cars, so there was a lot of people down there as well,” Mr Limbrick said.

The kids had a ball too, with the Careful Cobber cars a fan-favourite as children enjoyed driving them around.

The Billabong Ranch set up an animal nursery for people to pet the animals and brought along camels to ride alongside ponies to draw a stagecoach.

“We had a market going as well, and we had a few new participants in that, which was good,” Mr Limbrick said.

Crowds also enjoyed music from Paul Lines who played many classic hits from the 1980s and ’90s.

Many people, children and adults alike participated in funky dancing, with two girls from Melbourne doing daggy dancing on the roundabout with a boom box.

The fun-filled event ended with a marvellous display of fireworks at midnight to welcome the new year.

Riverine Herald Google News Panels

Saturday, 25th July 2026

Your Morning Headlines

Select Stories

Publish Panels