What's on
From live demonstrations, presentations, interviews, fair entertainment and great local food - over 3 big days - find out what's on at the Lost Trades Fair Bendigo in 2025.
There was lots to see in 2025
There is something at Lost Trades to inspire everyone at any age. Watch hands at work, meet the makers, ask questions, have a go, watch trade techniques and share knowledge. Be inspired by more than 150 artisan makers sharing their crafts.
Gates opened at 9.30am for pre-booked tickets. Tickets were available each day at the gate from 10.00am.
Wander through slowly to take it all in. Demonstrations start at 10am and run through until 4.00pm.
Entering the artisan village and watch master artisans at work. Your day will be filled with inspiration and your
curiosity satisfied, questions answered and your senses filled. The very best artisans in the country will show you
just how talented you can be with dedication, practise, skill and the right training.
Daily tickets, group bookings and full 3-Day unlimited passes are available online.
Artisans
Watch master artisans at work using age old techniques to create incredible things by hand. Take a front row seat and watch stonemasons, blacksmiths, leather workers, woodworkers, textile workers and decorative artists at work.
Trades and crafts in in Metal, Wood, Leather, Textiles, Decorative Arts, Stone, Fibre, Clay, Glass.
Live demonstrations
From spoon carving races to whip cracking demonstrations, fly rod casting, ropemaking and a masterfull Spoon Carving Championship race will entertain throughout the weekend along with staged artisans presentations on the main stage.
As for every artisan trade listed on our Artisans Page - they will all be demonstrating their trades each day - some artisans demonstrate short 15 - 30 minute demonstrations each hour, others whose demonstrations may take up to an hour will demonstrate three to four times each day.
Little Tradies
There is so much for the Little tradies in us all to see and do at Lost Trades.
Spend a day with no screens, phones and ipads - and find your imagination and discover
the joy of getting your hands dirty and making stuff.
Dip you own birthday candles. Carve your own adventure toys.
Sit and enjoy the traditional puppet shows by the famous Prof Wallace.
Get you photo taken with stilt-walkers Jack & Jill of all trades.
Interviews, Q&A, Presentations - Main Stage
Head to the main stage, take a seat - and be inspired by the stories shared by artisans about
what they do and what inspires them.
Design, creativity, skills training and what it takes to be a career maker today will be covered on stage in a Q&A format.
These artisan presentations will provide a deeper insight into the work of each artisan and the art of hand made.
Program will run over 3 days on the main stage without duplication.
Presenters 2025 (6 presentations each day)
Grace Horne - Scissor Maker (UK); Konrad Sauer - Planemaker (Canada);
Lauren Muney - Silhouette Artist (USA)
Prue Venables - Ceramicist; Matt Mewburn - Blacksmith; Shawn McIntyre - Folding Knife Maker;
Simon Dart - Bookbinder; Tobi Bockholt - Knifemaker; Bill Webb - Leather Plaiter; Jess Wootten - Bootmaker;
Jude Craig - Indigo & Botanical Dyer; Hape Kiddle - Wood Carver; Glen Rundell - Windsor Chairmaker;
Rachel Grose - Silversmith; Pete Trott - Bladesmith Toolmaker; Fergus Forsythe - Horologist.
Food & drinks
Food Lovers - Treat your tastebuds to fresh local food
If you love good food - then Lost Trades delivers with a great selection of food for everyone.
Meet the food makers themselves, the producers and growers that will share their love of what they produce.
Local food producers from this UNESCO Region of Gastronomy will share what they make and grow and why Bendigo is celebrated by foodies across the country.
(note Lost Trades has a policy of NO soft drinks or any canned or bottled drinks from large manufacturers -
our food vendors will not have these products for sale)
