At a glance
- When
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 4pm (Canberra time, daylight saving, UTC+11)
- Where
- Tuggeranong Town Centre: Anketell Street, the laneways, the Health Centre car park and Cowlishaw Street
- Cost
- Free entry
- Stages
- Laneway Stage and Cowlishaw Street Stage, with performances throughout the day
- Zones
- Marketplace, arts and crafts, games and activities, food vendors, community hub, sustainability, health and wellbeing, performances and live music
- Who it’s for
- Families and anyone in the Tuggeranong Valley who wants a free day out in the town centre
- What to do now
- The organisers point to their Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages for updates
- Last checked
- Saturday 7 November 2026, against the SouthFest website and its prospectus
- Not yet confirmed
- Visitor parking, bus arrangements, road closures, the performer line-up and the zone map (the organisers have not published them yet)
SouthFest 2026 is a free-entry community festival in the Tuggeranong Town Centre on Saturday 21 November, running from 10am to 4pm. The organisers have not yet published visitor parking, bus or road closure information, so this guide sets out what the organisers have confirmed and what is still to come.
The details below come from the SouthFest website and its 2026 prospectus, both read on Saturday 7 November 2026. The festival is organised by the Tuggeranong Community Council with support from local community groups.
When is SouthFest 2026 and where is it?
| Detail | What the organisers say |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 21 November 2026 |
| Time | 10am to 4pm |
| Place | Tuggeranong Town Centre (Anketell Street, laneways, the Health Centre car park and Cowlishaw Street) |
| Entry | Free |
| Organiser | Tuggeranong Community Council, Inc. |
The website describes the festival as bringing life to the streets, laneways and lake foreshore of the town centre. It says the festival will “again” do so. The prospectus names the same streets and car park as the event precinct, and the main site says the location is shown on maps on the page.
What is SouthFest for?
The organisers list four objectives. Celebrate means highlighting life and achievements in the Tuggeranong Valley. Showcase means promoting local organisations, businesses, art and performance. Connect means helping individuals, families and local organisations meet. Invigorate means breathing new life into the Tuggeranong Town Centre. The website adds that organisations big and small are collaborating on a day of celebration, markets, food, activity and entertainment.
Is SouthFest free?
Yes. The organisers describe SouthFest as a free-entry event and say it suits families, friends and individuals. The prospectus calls it a free-entry festival that showcases the people, passions and places of Tuggeranong. The marketplace and food zones are made up of stalls and vendors selling their own goods, and the organisers have not published prices.
What will be on at SouthFest?
The organisers say they are planning zones that link together to bring the whole event precinct to life. The website lists these zones:
| Zone | What the organisers say |
|---|---|
| Marketplace | A range of stalls offering products, local crafts and treats |
| Arts and crafts | Interactive arts and crafts activities suitable for all ages |
| Games and activities | Games and activities designed for families and children |
| Food vendors | Food and beverages from local vendors |
| Community hub | Groups, organisations and agencies that make the community a better place to live |
| Sustainability | An area plus workshops showing ways of managing resources sustainably |
| Health and wellbeing | Stalls and workshops connecting the community with businesses, organisations and activities that encourage activity, health and wellbeing |
| Performances and live music | Live performances from groups and local musicians |
The organisers say these zones are planned, so treat the list as the intended layout rather than a final map. A zone map has not been published.
Where are the stages?
The prospectus names two stages, the Laneway Stage and the Cowlishaw Street Stage, and says both will run performances throughout the day with sound systems for live performances and soundtracks. It also says roving and pop-up performances are welcome. The performers and running order have not been published.
The website says registrations for SouthFest 2026 have closed, and questions about registrations go to connect@southfest.au.
What kinds of stalls will be there?
The prospectus sorts participants into five groups, which gives a sense of what you can expect to find:
- Community groups and services: local not-for-profits, clubs, charities, schools and service organisations whose main purpose is to share information and connect with the community. Their sales are limited to incidental items such as membership, manuals and pamphlets.
- Small market and cottage industry stalls: home-based or sole trader businesses selling handmade or niche products.
- Commercial exhibitors and stalls: larger businesses promoting and selling goods or services.
- Food and beverage vendors: these must comply with ACT Public Health standards and hold a current Temporary Food Business Registration.
- Entertainers: musicians, dancers, roving performers, cultural acts and workshop hosts.
The prospectus says stalls will be operating from 10am to 4pm, and that early closure and bump-out is not available. The organisers have not published a stall list.
The prospectus sets out how the stalls are run. A standard site is 3 by 3 metres, and participants bring their own marquee, table and signage, weighted to the ground with no pegging into the pavement. Individual generators are not permitted in the event space, and limited electrical supply is available by request only. All participants need public and product liability insurance, and food and beverage licences must reach SouthFest at least 15 business days before the event.
Will alcohol be served?
The prospectus says alcohol served for drinking on site, including tastings or bottle sales for later consumption, needs a liquor licence or permit issued by Access Canberra. The organisers have not said which vendors, if any, will have one.
Can I drive and park near SouthFest?
The organisers have not published visitor parking information. What the prospectus does say concerns vehicles on the day, and it is written for stallholders:
| Time | Vehicle access (from the prospectus) |
|---|---|
| From 7am | Bump-in begins; vehicle access for drop-offs is limited to road and car park sites only |
| By 9am | All vehicles must be removed |
| 4pm | Bump-out begins |
| From 4:15pm | Limited vehicle access resumes, subject to safety |
The prospectus does not say where visitors should park or which roads will be closed.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
The prospectus says that if the organisers cancel SouthFest 2026 within seven days of the event or on the day, due to adverse weather conditions, public safety concerns or government direction, no refunds will be issued to participants. It does not describe a wet-weather plan for visitors.
How do I contact the organisers?
The SouthFest team lists the email address connect@southfest.au and the phone number (02) 5110 3103. The website also points to the festival’s Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages for updates. SouthFest is held under the auspices of the Tuggeranong Community Council, Inc., and is brought to life by the voluntary SouthFest Sub-Committee.
What is still to come?
As of 7 November 2026 the organisers had not published any of the following, so we have not guessed at them:
- Visitor parking and public transport arrangements
- Road closures around Anketell Street and Cowlishaw Street
- The performer line-up and the running order for the two stages
- A zone map and a list of stalls and food vendors
We will check the website again nearer the day and update this guide if the organisers publish more.
Sources
- SouthFest 2026 (home page; read 7 November 2026)
- SouthFest 2026 prospectus (read 7 November 2026)
Featured image: Tuggeranong Town Centre across Lake Tuggeranong, April 2020 (photo: Nick-D / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Tuggeranong Community Council or SouthFest. Times and arrangements can change; check the SouthFest website before you go.