When it rains, Cabin Fever Festival pours

Joint Festival Director Erin Molloy said the idea for Cabin Fever was developed to help drive visitors to the region during the winter season.

“Cabin Fever has turned winter down south into a must-do experience, where guests get to see a completely different side to our picturesque region. Bold red wines, stouts and whiskeys by roaring bonfires, raucous music and comfort food Margaret River-style only scratches the surface of what you can expect when you attend.”

It’s estimated that over 7,500 people attend Cabin Fever events each year, including 2,000 visitors from Perth.

“The festival encourages people to embrace winter and get out and explore the region, and those who do so are rewarded with an incredible line-up of food, wine, music and fun.” Ms Molloy said. “The events put forward by venues become more imaginative and fun each year, and this year’s program is no exception. It’s so fun to see the region alive and thriving in the middle of winter with so many activations and events to choose from – it’s a far cry from the winters of hibernation from a decade ago”. 

As an example, last year’s Red Hot at Swings & Roundabouts saw the Yallingup winery open in the evening with museum wine tastings around a bonfire and a DJ providing the tunes, Lenton Brae hosted a scoot booting Bushman’s Ball, and Flametree Wines put on a Yum Cha brunch with Little Hand Dumplings.

Past events include Pie Meets Wine, a collaboration between Boranup Pies and Ale and Fermoy Estate; Negroni Battle, a free event held at Rhum Burgundy where three WA bartenders made their own versions of negroni cocktails with a twist; and Getting Jibba’s With It at Rocky Ridge, a collaboration with Jibba’s Hot Sauce over a five course spicy Asian meal matched with ice-cold drinks from the brewery.

We look forward to the return of some festival favourites such as Shelter the Storm, Blazing Brews at Beerfarm, Wine’s a Drag at Bungalow Social, Food Truck Frenzy and Winter Feast. New events to check out this year include an Emily Taylor Yum Cha collab with The Goose in Busselton, Cabernet Society at Vasse Felix, a wine pairing with no-frills grocery items at Skigh Wine and a Munchies and Magnums party at the new Busselton Pavilion.

Three years ago, a new pop-up venue was created on the Busselton Foreshore, Shelter at The Cabin, in partnership with Shelter Brewing Co. Touted as the festival’s hub, Shelter at The Cabin will return 13 and 14 July and be programmed with live music, kids activities and adult workshops. Early mornings in The Cabin have included some energetic offerings such as a freezing ocean plunge with The Swimming Women and high energy, music centric Deep House Vinyasa yoga. For little ones, The Cabin has offered free face painting, paint by numbers, pot plant painting and circus activities.

Shelter’s head of marketing Tom Jockel said Cabin Fever has grown to be a must-do event in the South West.

“On the lawn in front of the brewery is Shelter at The Cabin which adds an exciting element to the Busselton foreshore precinct and is another great way for Shelter to get involved in the festival, pouring our beers in a pop-up venue that’s programmed with loads of exciting and changing events,” Mr Jockel said.

“In conjunction with Cabin Fever, Shelter hosts a rollicking night of live music and dancing at Shelter the Storm and we’re excited to be doing it again this year. We’ve also hosted various events upstairs in our function room from wine education sessions to family-friendly events,” he said.

So, block your diaries in July, put on the puffer, don the beanie and get ready for when fiery feasts, wild music and decadence take over the wilderness of the Margaret River Region this winter.

Tickets go on sale Wed 1 May 2024. More at cabinfeverfest.com.au.