South West hidden treasures set to be put on display at Lost and Found Festival in October

The hidden treasures in the region’s culture and lifestyle are set to be on full display next month as the Lost and Found Festival prepares to return for its fourth year. The festival is an opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the best of the Bunbury Geographe area and uncover its secrets. Venues across the region are gearing up for the four-day celebration, which invites adventurers and culture enthusiasts to experience the unique blend of hidden wonders, extraordinary experiences and regional delights. Among the hosts for this year’s festival is St Aidan Wines in the Ferguson Valley, which will run a Wine in the Vines event. Owner Philip Smith said the aim of the festival from its inception was to offer a wide variety of activities to encourage visitors to come to our region and discover its beauty, vibrancy and range of produce. “From St Aidan Wines’ perspective, we hope to have two sell-out events which showcase the vineyard and wine production with the Wine Wander event, and the restaurant’s ability to deliver exceptional food coupled with some of our fabulous and award-winning red wines at Red Red Wine Banquet,” he said. “We hope to have many successful events which are not only great for the visitors, but also leave a lasting impression, with the hope that they will spread the word, and also return themselves. “Another benefit is for the local tourism and hospitality businesses to have a platform to present themselves collaboratively with other businesses in the region.” Incorporating agritourism and eco-tourism, the festival will offer visitors the chance to connect deeply with the land through sustainable practices, discover innovative agricultural methods, and explore the region’s natural beauty with eco-friendly activities. The celebration is set to highlight a commitment to preserving a unique identity for the South West and strengthening the bond between visitors and the region. Highlights include an electrifying blues performance from Ash Grunwald at Froth Craft Bunbrewery, a guided wildflower hike and luxury picnic at Wellington National Park and wood-fired pizzas with live jazz by the lake at Evedon Lakeside Retreat. Ferguson Valley Marketing chair Sue Williams said the festival was a celebration of the South West’s diverse and vibrant community. “We’re thrilled to showcase the region’s unique charm through a variety of experiences that highlight both its natural beauty and cultural richness,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for visitors to not just see, but truly experience what makes our region special.” The festival will run from October 10 until October 13, and is a partnership between the City of Bunbury, shires of Dardanup, Harvey and Capel, the Ferguson Valley Marketing Board, Australia’s South West, Bunbury Geographe Tourism Partnership, South West Development Commission and Tourism WA. For more information visit lostandfoundfestival.com.au.