CPAC's WOW Festival is back!

Following a two-year hiatus, Casula Powerhouse Arts Center’s annual Way Out West (WOW) Festival returns in person this school holidays from 24-30 September.

With an expanded seven day program overflowing with crazy and creative family fun, WOW will deliver a wide range of arts, cultural events and activities suitable for children, young people, families, and people of all abilities.

WOW takes over all Casula Powerhouse public spaces to create a fully immersive and engaging experience. This year’s program, curated by Susie Rugg and Pip Hall, is bursting with live performances, interactive installations, incredible outdoor adventures and wondrous workshops with a strong focus on sustainability, community and play.

“We couldn’t be more excited to finally bring back the Way Out West (WOW) Festival for children, families and youth in real life across seven days. Thanks to funding from the Federal Government’s RISE program and the NSW Government’s Festival of Place program, we’re expanding with six big days for children and a final day especially for youth” said Craig Donarski, Casula Powerhouse Director.

“The 2022 program features world class shows with some of the best entertainers. But we believe that our event should be accessible to all, which is why we are proud to again offer free events too that make up a large part of the week” he continued. “From magic to music, to theater, cabaret, bubbles and interactive creative fun, we’re packing in something for everyone.”

Tickets are now onsale on the website for the major shows. Here are just some of the highlights for this year’s WOW Festival:

FAMILY SHOWS:

Australia’s favourite bubbleman, Dr. Hubble’s Bubbles takes you on a fun, funny (and slightly emotional) journey into the world of bubbles.

Pack your dancing shoes for some can’t miss musical shows! Bunny Racket is here to rock you and his gang of fluffy punk rock friends serve up real rock’n’roll for everybody. The Lah Lah’s introduce children and their families to the wonderful world of music and musical instruments. And we didn’t forget about the little ones as The Beanies bring a musical adventure with BIG imaginations!

Have a laugh with Splash Test Dummies and see a brilliant array of catch-your-breath stunt work, acrobatics, juggling and the side-splitting, slapstick comedy the dummies are famous for. Or spend time with Mr. Magic himself, Adam Mada in Mada’s Marvels, a hilarious interactive show.

WORKSHOPS:

Make your own bespoke art journal from repurposed books at a special family workshop; help transform the CPAC garden into an adventure playground using wood, fabric and tools at The Big Build. Turn yourself into WOW Festival royalty, make a crown inspired by Katy Plummer’s installation, or experience a performative workshop Air Sticks PLAY led by researchers from Monash University SensiLab that will take kids on a magical audio-visual story of electronic musical instruments.

Join Master Magician Adam Mada, magic coach for Australia’s Got Talent, N.I.D.A and the Australian cast of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child Parts 1 & 2 for an hour of tricks and tomfoolery that will have you wowing your friends and family in no time and join the team behind the Splast test dummies for an hour of topsy turvy curcus skills and fun!

INTERACTIVE INSTALLATIONS:

Step into Katy Plummer’s magical installation You are the Darling Royal Child of Time Herself and get hands on with a series of make and play activity stations.

Plus stop by the Youth Makers Market where twenty makers aged 4-18 will be selling their handmade wares. Meet and chat with the makers and take home an original artwork, delicious treat or crafty creation! Have a boogie at the Grand Daggy Disco then Drop into Shadowlands, an immersive play space for children to get creative with light!

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE & PLAY:

Get out and play! Inspired by the Zero Litter in Georges River Project, Liverpool Council’s early learning centres have transformed their recyclables into some friendly turtles to create Turtle Walk. There’s big ones and small ones all hidden for you to find! Stop by the pop-up Liverpool City Council Library to relax, read and lose yourself in the wonderful world of words or pictures! And don’t forget to grab some coloured chalk to transform the pathways on the Chalk Walk. Plus explore the CPAC garden with vegetable sculpture workshops, bee workshops and more!

CLOSING BREAKDANCING CHAMPIONSHIP

WOW Festival will close out with a special youth day on 30 September with the world breakdancing championship Freestyle Session. Run by Street University and held in the Turbine Hall, the annual street dancing competition crowns the best dancers and serves as the Australian qualifier for the world championship. Originally held only in the United States, Freestyle Session is now being recognized worldwide.