Annual Highlights
- January - Australia Day celebrations
- February - Colac Cup
- March - Kana Festival
- April - Apollo Bay Music Festival
- May - Great Ocean Road International Marathon
- August - International Lighthouse Weekend, Cape Otway Lightstation
- September - Colac & District Football Netball League finals
- October - Birregurra Festival
- November - Colac Show
- December - Colac Carols by Candlelight
For more details on sporting and cultural festivals and events held throughout the year see Colac Otway Shire's events calendar.
So Much To Do
On the surface Colac may look like a quiet country town, but it is in fact a vibrant community which offers a hectic round of social and cultural events, not to mention the 110-plus sporting and recreation groups.
Netball and football are among the two most popular sports, closely followed by cricket and tennis. There are dozens more to choose from - with everything from motor sports, to archery, lawn bowls, golf, croquet and badminton.
There are a series of free family days out, which reinforce the sense of community in Colac. One of the highlights of the year is the Kana Festival, which starts with a ball and is followed up with a grand parade and day of free and fun activities for the whole family.
Colac and Apollo Bay horticultural shows are always a big drawcard, as are the annual car show and nearby Birregurra Festival.
The district also boasts thriving cultural and artistic communities.
Colac Performing Arts and Cultural Centre (COPACC), which is also home to the town's cinema, offers a varied programme of theatre for children and adults, popular entertainment, music, opera and comedy. Colac Players, an amateur dramatic group, has a strong following.
Art exhibitions are held frequently in the town and there is a move for a community based arts gallery. There are a range of art and craft groups offering regular meetings and workshops in a variety of art forms ranging from quilting to mosaics, painting and furniture restoration.
There are several country music clubs in Colac and local pubs regularly host live bands. Apollo Bay's annual music festival draws enthusiastic crowds from across southern Victoria every year.
On the food and wine front, farmers markets are becoming increasingly popular and there is a burgeoning regional gourmet market. A food and wine trail is being promoted to tourists so they can make the most of the region's berries, cheeses, wines, breads and ice creams - not to mention seafood. And there's no reason why locals should miss out.
It doesn't matter whether your passion is photography, yoga, horse racing or four wheel driving, there is a club or group in Colac which has got it covered.