If you're a rose or garden lover you will thoroughly enjoy a visit to Renmark in October for their annual 10 day long Rose Festival.

The festival is full of activities, displays and demonstrations that will enthuse and delight those who appreciate natures' beauty.

The 2011 Program of Events and Open Gardens has been added to the 'Festival Programs' page.

The highlight of the festival is a display of flower arrangements featuring the rose. The theme this year, 2011, is Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes. The display is held in the Town Institute at the beginning of Rose Week, only a few yards from where the official opening will be held, in the Jarrett Memorial Gardens. 

This year is a very exciting year for the festival as there will be a new rose released called 'Renmark's Rose'.  The colour of deep apricot was chosen because of the apricots and oranges grown in our region. 

It is the biggest Rose festival ever with over 40 events and 18 open gardens. David Ruston will be at the fair & at the institute to sign his book "A life with roses"  which will be on sale at both venues.

Throughout the festival there are Art Galleries and Art/Photographic Exhibitions to visit as well as a quilting displays, Greek Taverna, Historic Homestead, Garden Party under stately trees, a guided walk through the old pioneer cemetery with many interesting stories of the early Renmark settlers, town and garden walks, Open gardens, Steaming on the PS Industry, and other river cruises, flower arranging demonstration/luncheon and talks by David Ruston,cake decorating demonstration Luncheon, woodworkers showing their skills, delicious morning & afternoon teas as well as twilight canoe tours, bike ride/walk trail through Paringa Paddock, conducted tour through Woolshed Brewery, Cabaret with compere Tim Jackson and much, much more. 

Renmark is also the home of Ruston's Rose Garden which houses the National Rose Collection and has 27 acres planted out to roses and ornamentals. After wandering through their rose gardens you can relax and enjoy a cuppa at the David Ruston Visitor Centre which is incorporated within the complex and has a display of classic cars.

There will be a photographic display in the foyer of the Chaffey Theatre and a photographic exhibition at the  McCormick Environmental Centre which also holds an informative display on the Murray Darling System, and has a miniature wetland.