General News
2 November, 2026
Future of Kannamaroo uncertain
Horsham’s Kannamaroo Festival faces an uncertain future as a small committee grapples with dwindling volunteers and rising costs.
Horsham’s Kannamaroo Festival faces an uncertain future as a small committee grapples with dwindling volunteers and rising costs.
The warning comes despite the success of the 2026 event, which moved from November to April and switched to Sawyer Park.
Kannamaroo committee chairperson Emma Smith said that when she joined eight years ago, volunteers outnumbered the seven committee members she has now.
“Volunteers are a really big issue because if we don't have enough people helping, then we can't really do it,” Ms Smith said.
“We don't necessarily make much money from the event, so putting it on is becoming a lot more expensive to pay for things… if you don't have committee members, it just sort of puts the cost up of everything.”
Ms Smith emphasised the added struggle a small committee faces when just one member can't attend, compared to larger committees where the impact is less severe.
“Our main problem is it's a lot of work for a small group to be doing,” she said.
“That's part of it, as well as the funding because it's a free event.”
“It's something we were talking about recently, if we keep it going because of the cost when you don't have enough people helping.”
The president said this year's Kannamaroo was a success and encouraging to committee members.
“It did rain, but it was not enough to put people off; people sort of stayed, just went under shelter, which is what we’re lucky to have here, a bit more shelter that people can stay,” she said.
“It was a really good event this year, and hopefully we can build on that.”
The 2027 Kannamaroo Festival will be held on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, 4.
If any local performance groups, or anyone willing to sponsor the event, want to be involved, don't hesitate to get in touch with the committee.
If you are interested in joining the committee, or have any inquiries, email kannamaroo@gmail.com or contact Emma Smith on 0400 292 459.