Dear Beanie Lovers,

To be a volunteer at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival is to be part of the team that produces the world’s finest beanie celebration and (arguably) Australia’s favourite craft festival. So, from the bottom of my beanie, we ask you to consider volunteering at the next festival. As any who’ve experienced the event will tell you, it’s the volunteers who make this Festival (and it’s the volunteers who get the most out of it!). We simply couldn’t do it without you. To help you dive in, we’ve put together some information about what’s involved in volunteering.

There are many advantages, including being part of the team and exclusive entry to special events. While the great benefit for beanie makers in volunteering is that you are able to sell more than 10 beanies at Beanie Central (up to 50!). If you need more swing tags please order them here.

There is no need to register prior to the festival to volunteer. Registration opens on  Wednesday 18 until friday 20 June 2025 at Araluen Arts Centre. Just come on down and our coordinators will help you sign on and get your name down on the roster. There are plenty of shifts to choose from - teashop, beanie minder, front door counter, back door sitter, gallery attendant, children’s corner, cakeshop, BBQ (especially love your husband in this job!!), set up pack up….plenty to do. There are active and sit down jobs…plenty for every ability.

We can use your help for set up (Wednesday June 18, Thursday June 19) and pack up on (Tuesday June 24)

Beanie Ambassadors

All those lovely beanie makers who are over 80 years old, we invite you to attend the Festival with your 50 beanies but do not expect you to volunteer 10 hours. We welcome you to mingle, sit and have a cuppa, demonstrate creating your crafts. If you would like to do a couple of shifts, you are most welcome but it is not required. We just would love having you around being a part of the festivities.

Children

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children under the age of 16 are unable to volunteer, but they may assist their guardian in certain volunteer jobs such as beanie minder, children’s corner and in the gallery as an attendant.

Read on for more information on Volunteer Events.. We hope you’ll join the fray and be part of the festival team in 2025.

Yours woolly
Chief Beanieologist Jo