Jailhouse Rock Festival to return to March 2023 with new committee appointed

The festival is run by a dedicated team of volunteers which celebrates the 50's and 60's with the festival drawing thousands of people to Ararat each year.

The event hasn't been a highlight of the calendar since 2020 with the original committee disbanding and the folding a real possibility, however Chelsea Streeter had other ideas.

"Myself, my partner and his brother decided we didn't want the festival to be folded," Mrs Streeter said.

"So we took it on in December 2021.

"Not everything was organised for the festival so we were concerned that if we were to do it it wouldn't be as successful as we would like it to be, so we decided it wouldn't go ahead in 2022."

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Ararat Rural City, Cr Mayor Jo Armstrong was thrilled about the return of the beloved Jailhouse Rock Festival for next year.

"Ararat Rural City is home to a range of fantastic festivals and events. We are pleased to be hosting the iconic Jailhouse Rock Festival once again," she said.

"We're very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to this proud Ararat tradition that celebrates all things rock n' roll from the '50s and '60s era."

Mrs Streeter said the new committee couldn't wait for the festival to return next year, bigger and better than ever.

"We want it to be as successful as it can be," she said.

"The new committee is excited to continue the festival after two years on hold.

"We have been in contact with Ararat mayor, Dr Tim Harrison and it sounds like it is going to be quite good, we are very much looking forward to it returning."

Upon meeting with the original committee, Mrs Streeter put a call out to residents to see if anyone wanted the event to go ahead.

"We had 15 people turn up, which was unbelievable," she said.

I only posted into the Facebook group the day before, there was a great response in such a small time."

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Following the renewed interest an AGM was called on March 10 and a new committee was sworn in.

"The new committee will build on the previous festivals programs, including dancing, classic cars, trucks and bikes and the music of the 50s & 60s era," Mrs Streeter said.

"The last committee said there was no one around who wanted to help but there definitely is."

There was 15 people who joined the new Jailhouse Rock Festival committee with the key roles outlined below:

Festival Director: Chelsea Streeter

Secretary: Loretta Miller

Treasurer: Tanya Phillips

Anyone interested in joining contact either the Facebook group or email: Araratjailhouserock@gmail.com

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