Lifestyle & Entertainment
22 February, 2026
A town tradition rolls on as Jailhouse Rock returns
THE iconic Jailhouse Rock Festival returns to Ararat in March. The festival began in 1994 and has endured through changing committees, lean seasons, strong seasons and a global pandemic.
Longevity of that kind in a regional town is not accidental.
It is built, year after year, by people who decide something is worth carrying forward.
“Next year is going to be the 30th staging of the Jailhouse Rock Festival,” organiser Bernadine Streeter said. “So we’re ticking off the box this year and hoping to have a huge blast next year for the 30th event.”
For now, the focus is on delivering this year’s weekend.
“It’s getting very close,” Ms Streeter said this week, “We’re a very small group of people organising it, and as we get closer, things snowball and get a little bit stressful, but we’re getting there.”
Ms Streeter said the organising team is essentially five volunteers — “basically three plus two” — coordinating performers, venues, permits, sponsorship and the practical detail that allows the public celebration to unfold smoothly.
The weekend begins Friday night at Ararat Town Hall with Slim and the Sparkplugs, long associated with Jailhouse Rock across multiple eras. A street cruise component will bring classic cars and hot rods through town, with prizes supported by local businesses.
On Saturday, the festival moves into the centre of Ararat. Barkly Street will close in front of the Town Hal from the traffic lights to the roundabout for the “Show Us Your Wheels” display organised by the Grampians Vintage Car Club.
It is designed to be inclusive. Rather than judging vehicles against each other, Ms Streeter said the format runs “like a raffle”, with entrants going into the draw for prizes. The aim is participation, not perfection.
Live music continues through the day with the Cobra 45s before Saturday night splits across two venues: Slim and the Sparkplugs at the Ararat Hotel, and The Stompin’ 88s at the Town Hall.
The Stompin’ 88s were a highlight last year.
“They were so well received, playing encores and rocking on into the night,” Ms Streeter said.
Over time, the festival has developed a loyal following. Some dancers rebook accommodation well in advance and closely watch for ticket releases.
Sunday shifts to the Ararat racecourse for a gate-entry day featuring food vendors, market stalls, a show-and-shine for cars, bikes and trucks, and space for dancers who, as Ms Streeter noted, can “dance for four hours straight” which is always quite a spectacle.
It is also the financial backbone of the weekend.
“This is where we make our money to pay our bills,” she said.
The economic effect of the festival is significant for Ararat.
Even a modest influx of visitors staying two nights can inject hundreds of thousands of dollars into Ararat’s accommodation houses, cafés, pubs and retailers.
“That’s why we do it,” Ms Streeter said, “Rock and roll might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this is something that’s there for everyone.”
Keeping the festival going requires more than goodwill.
“The hardest part we’ve found, historically, is retaining volunteers with the skills to be able to do the organisation,” she said, referring to the work of sponsorship, grant applications, merchandise, design and compliance that underpins the public program.
That work is rarely visible. It happens long before the street closes and long after the last amplifier is switched off.
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