Countryfest was an annual country music festival at Australia’s Wonderland. The event appeared in the park’s special events programme, with surviving advertisements documenting festivals during August and September in both 1996 and 1997.
Country music was at the centre of the festival. The 1997 programme advertised major concerts featuring established Australian performers, opportunities for emerging musicians and activities celebrating Australian country life.
Festival dates
The following festival periods have been identified in surviving promotional material:
| Year | Advertised dates |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 3 August to 29 September 1996 |
| 1997 | 2 August to 21 September 1997 |
The 1996 dates appeared in a television advertisement for Countryfest. The 1997 dates were printed in the park’s brochure, where the event was listed as “Country Festival”.
Countryfest 1997
Two major concerts were advertised for Countryfest ’97, with the opening concert scheduled for Sunday 3 August and the closing concert for Sunday 21 September.
| Concert date | Advertised performers |
|---|---|
| Sunday 3 August 1997 | Lee Kernaghan, Darren Coggan, Tania Kernaghan, Wayne Law and Tina Martyn |
| Sunday 21 September 1997 | Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley, Dead Ringer Band, Clint Beattie and Felicity |
A new feature announced for 1997 was a series of Sunday showcases for emerging country music performers. From Sunday 10 August, performers were invited to showcase their talents and compete for prizes.
The advertised festival programme also included blacksmiths, artisans and craftspeople, gold panning and woodchopping. Australian wine tasting and food sampling were promoted alongside dog shows, wandering singers and pony rides.
Ironbark Jim was also included in the programme, with demonstrations of whip-cracking and bushman skills.
