2026 VETFORDIA EVENT PROGRAM
Welcome to a day created for connection, reflection, joy, and community.
Take part in what lights you up. Rest when you need to. Meet beautiful people. Share stories. Enjoy the moments in between.
✨ AVAILABLE ALL DAY
Art, pottery, origami, jumping castle, popcorn, fairy floss, wandering moments, and beautiful community connection throughout the festival.
☀️ MORNING CONNECTIONS
Paper Plane Competition - out doors at around 8am. How far can your plane fly?!
7:00am → Breakfast Share
Sausage sizzle, morning coffee chats, and gentle community connection.
8:00am → Yoga with Jackie
A calming start to the day with movement, breath, and grounding.
9:00am → Samoko Drumming
Feel the rhythm, energy, and connection of community drumming.
10:00pm → Angel talks about Caring Without Running on Empty:
Looking at compassion fatigue, burnout and emotional boundaries, particularly how we can continue to care deeply without carrying everything with us.
10:30am → Good Grief with Samantha Starshine
A heartfelt space for reflection, healing, and honest conversation.
🥁 MIDDAY GATHERINGS
11:30am → Kirtan with Bhaktiful
Come join Dr Natalie Noble and band and sing along with their beautiful mantras and harmonies.
12:00am → Suzanne Staples Choir & Singing Circle
Suzanne leads us to come together and sing together. This is a beautiful experience and everyone is encouraged to join in. The singing circle will be held outside.
1:00pm → Shane Walters
A soulful blend of roots, blues and intricate slide guitar.
1:30pm → Dr Sha and Meditation
Pause, breathe, reconnect, and settle into stillness together.
🌿 AFTERNOON FLOW
3:00pm → Mariko McConnell
An afternoon of music, presence, and shared experience.
4:00pm → Dr Kat, the Singing Vet
Music, heart, and veterinary stories celebrating the bond between animals and humans.
5:00pm → Renee James & Ted Watson
Live music to carry the afternoon into evening with warmth and energy.
🎶 SUNSET & EVENING GATHERING
🍽 Shared “Bring a Plate” Dinner
Gather together for food, conversation, and community.
6:00pm → "To Die Like A Dog" - Michael O'Donoghue
Michael reads from his new book and explores what a "good death" can look like - for our animals, and for us. He aldo brings poetry and a Celtic blessing, with elements of ceremony (music, light, sound, and scent), he offers a thoughtful, compassionate space to reflect on death as a natural, meaningful, and even beautiful part of life.
6:30pm → The Living Eulogy
Open-mic tributes, toasts, and treasured stories - the eulogy Elaine deserves, delivered in person while she can blush, laugh, and heckle from the front row. All welcome to speak, read, or simply raise a glass.
7:00pm → Sass Sisters
Live music, good energy, and community celebration.
8:00pm → Moondance
An evening of live music to close out the day together.
9:00pm → Community Pack Down & Farewell
