Founded in Nashville, Tennessee (1997-2006)  

The Australian Festival was founded in Nashville, Tennessee and ran in Nashville from 1997-2006. Founded in 1779, Nashville is known as the “Athens of the South”, due to its large number of educational facilities as well as banking, healthcare, and publishing industries. The capital city of Tennessee, Nashville is also known world-wide as the Home of Country Music!

The Australian Festival was held at Elmington Park from 1997-2003 and then from 2004 thru 2006 the Australian Festival was held at Centennial Park on West End Avenue which is Nashville's showcase metropolitan park. While operating in Nashville, The Australian Festival was blessed with excellent support from the city of Nashville including Friends of Elmington Park, Metropolitan Parks (under Director Jim Fyke), Vanderbilt University, Nashville Chamber of Commerce,  and the State of Tennessee (Tourism and Economic and Community Development). The Australian was also supported by many fine Nashville Corporations, none greater than the support of Southern Cross Travel and Tours, Hardy Wines Of Australia, Party Place-Grand Event Rentals, and the Outback Steakhouse as well as frequent exposure from the Nashville Media including Fox 17 and Lightning 100. 

In October 2005, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced a major trade mission to Australia In 2006 to continue developing the opportunities that exist between Tennessee and Australia. In 2006 Tennessee exports reached over $400,000,000.00 (Four hundred million dollars) of trade to Australia with that number increasing annually. Australia has also has become a part of the Tennessee landscape with 14 Australian owned companies employing 2500 people across the state in the areas of manufacturing, mining and the services sector. 

The Australian Festival - History in the Making!

It all started in 1997, when a social crew of Australian Football fans joined forces with an  enthusiastic group that had started playing in the Nashville area. They held the first official Australian Festival celebration with a game of Australian  Football at Elmington Park followed by a BBQ then the Grand Final Party at the Sportsman's Grille in Hillsboro Village. (The "Grand Final" - watched by the revelers via a live telecast - is the Australian Football Leagues Championship game, ala the American Super Bowl). Around 100 people attended the event known as the "1st Annual Grand Final Festival" and the general excitement of Australian's meeting other Aussies and then connecting with our American friends was absolutely contagious and clearly explained a core reason why this event had such a promising future... 

1997 Festival History - Click Here

From humble beginnings in 1997, the Festival has become known throughout the United States and even gets annual visitors from Australia.  The theme has remained constant since its conception - a showcase of Australian culture, the promotion of Australia ranging from business to sports and the sharing of our culture with our American friends. In 1998 the Festival grew to 500 patrons, while 1999 saw the numbers swell to 2000. This included partnerships and sponsorships being formed with Friends of Elmington Park and Kentucky Down Under. In 2000, the Festival exploded into a two day event with the Outback Steakhouse becoming the major sponsor. The Festival attracted around 5,000 patrons and included Australian Rules Football Teams & Australian Exhibitors from around the country...

1998-2000 Festival History  - Click Here

The 5th Annual Australian Festival, held in September, 2001, will always have special meaning in our Festival History. The Australian Festival was held 11 days after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. In many ways it was amazing that the Festival was held so close in time to the devastation that occurred in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. After the Sept 11th attacks, the Festival hung in the balance in terms of being canceled, but great community foresight by Jane Hardy, President of Friends of Elmington Park, and West End Outback Steakhouse Proprietor, Gerry Wetmore convinced Festival Chair & Board that the Festival would be a great opportunity to bring the community together to heal and celebrate all our cultures...

2001 Festival History - Click Here

In 2002 & 2003 combined, people from all over Tennessee attended the Australian Festival. The Australian Festival had come a long way from its humble beginnings, with weekend attendances of  approximately 10,000 patrons in both years. With a variety of family activities, including Animals Down Under, Kids Down Under, Sports Down Under, Australian Exhibitors, Outback Steakhouse Food Court and Aussie Entertainment, there was lots of fun for everyone. Children (and adults alike) enjoyed visiting and petting Australian native animals provided by Kentucky Down Under, which included kangaroos, a laughing kookaburra, wallabies, cockatoos, a python and dingo. Animals Down Under also featured a sheep herding demonstration...

2002-2003 Festival History  - Click Here

2004 saw the re-birth of the Australian Festival which started with the commencement of the Australian Festival moving to Centennial Park. Centennial Park is the showcase metropolitan park in Nashville - so the move created immediate excitement and exposure to the event that we had not seen before. The event jumped in size by approximately 3 - to around 3 acres - approximately 40 tents - with 3 main stages. A complete redesign of the Festival - including brand names was really focused on as part of this redesign. For the first time in the events history we hired a event management group that would long term oversee the entire event annually... 

2004 Festival History - Click Here

The 2005 Australian Festival was held at Centennial Park starting on Thursday September 8, 2005  and  completing on Sunday September 11, 2005. The Festival consisted of the following participants from Australia, New Zealand, and from around the United States:

• 20 sponsor organizations with 4 key festival partners.

• 50 musicians representing 20 musical acts (Aus & NZ).

• 75 ANZACC business attendees, speakers & sponsors.. 

• 18 Australian & New Zealand Food, Wine and Travel Trade Show booths with 150 attendees.

• 75 exhibitors representing 16 Australian Expo Tents.

• 25 animals and associate staff of 10 presenting from Kentucky Down Under.

• 225 Sports Down Under participants representing 17 clubs.

• 300 G'Day Mates school children participants.

• 75 Australian Festival volunteers and staff operating over the 4 day period.

2005 Festival History - Click Here

The 2006 Australian Festival (and associated events) was held between the 12th and the 17th September 2006. The Festival consisted of the following participants from Australia and from around the United States: 

• 24 Official Sponsors... 
• 15 Aussie Musical Acts (50 artists & 50 hours of music)...
• 20 Aussie Exhibitors & Market Place Displays... 
• 10 Industry Expert Speakers and Presenters...
• 125 Sports Down Under participants representing 10 clubs... 
• 200 G'Day Mates school children participants from 4 schools...
• 75 Australian Festival volunteers and staff operating over the 3 days... 

2006 Festival History - Click Here