The Festival of Audacious Ideas will be held in town from September 8 to 18 and is an initiative from Leeton Shire Council. 

A wide range of topics are set to be covered over the 10 days, including sport, the arts, disability, politics, history, literature, invention, business, culinary experiences and more. 

One of the many highlights will be an event with gold medal-winning Paralympian Tracy Barrell. 

The idea behind the event is to provide activities and events for all ages. 

There will be a family fun day, something for adults and everyone in between. 

The key criteria for events and activities as part of the festival is for a topic to have an “audacious” attitude or way of thinking. 

Council’s manager of library, culture and community Penny Davies said interest had been huge both in Leeton and from further afield. 

Some have even registered their interest in taking part if the festival were to be held for a second time. 

“It all started with the thought we should do something to mark the centenary of Henry Lawson leaving Leeton,” she said.

“Around the same time I was thinking about the State Library calling for expressions of interest to host a new travelling exhibition about the life and work of May Gibbs.

“As I pondered further I thought ‘Henry Lawson was here because of the MIA’ and ‘wow that was a pretty innovative idea at the time’.

“In further pondering I came up with the Festival of Audacious Ideas.

“We were then advised we had been successful with the State Library (May Gibbs) travelling exhibition.

“The last weeks of planning have seen the festival organically grow into 10 days of amazing, awesome, curious, and audacious events.”

Another event will have bubbleologists come to town, a local author launching their book, a poetry slam, a poet in residence and others that will focus on social justice and topics challenging today’s society. 

Venues being used throughout the festival will include the library, Roxy Theatre, the Visitor Information Centre, outside the Henry Lawson Cottage, Mountford Park, the Multipurpose Centre and more. 

“The Festival of Audacious Ideas provides an opportunity to immerse ourselves in experiences and information that can stretch our thinking, maybe even challenge some long-held beliefs,” Ms Davies said. 

“In some instances we will be inspired, in others, entertained. Hopefully we will be encouraged to get out there and give something new a try.”

A full program is currently being developed and will be available both online and in hard form in the weeks leading up to the festival. Residents have been urged to take part in as many of the events as possible. 

For more information contact Ms Davies on 69453 0965 or visit the Facebook page.