The most magical event on the Fraser Coast, the Mary Poppins Festival is held each year along Maryborough‘s Portside Precinct. Celebrate the Art of Storytelling and discover more about the world’s most loved nanny, as the heritage-rich streetscapes come to life with all the characters you know and love from Mary Poppins, along with other new and familiar faces. Celebrating the 13th Annual Mary Poppins Festival in 2021, come along for this FREE four-day event, and see how the #MaryPoppinsFestival has been adding a spoonful of sugar to the Fraser Coast since 2009.
Birthplace of Mary Poppins:
Like stepping back in time, the heritage-rich streetscapes of Maryborough hold the many wonders and secrets of one of Queensland’s oldest townships. Maryborough has born and bred many notable figures, from the first man to step foot ashore Gallipoli in 1915, Major Duncan Chapman, to eminent hematologist Barbara J. Bain, and indigenous professional rugby league footballer, Maurice “Bobby” Blair.
One of Maryborough’s biggest names however would have to be P.L. Travers, author of the much-loved and cherished nanny on Cherry Tree Lane, Mary Poppins. Born in the upstairs bedroom of the Australian Joint Stock Bank (now known as The Story Bank), on the corner of Kent and Richmond Street, was Helen Lyndon Goff – better known as her pen name, P.L. Travers.
From 1934-1989, P.L. Travers authored eight books in the Mary Poppins series. Her legacy is still very much celebrated year-round at the beautifully restored Story Bank today, with visitors able to view original documents and collections from P.L. Travers’ estate, plus themed interactive displays and plenty of other fun for the kids. Find out more
Festival highlights:
The Annual Mary Poppins Festival is jam-packed with the weird and the wonderful, with plenty of quirky and colourful merriment fit for the whole family. Celebrated across four days, kids of all ages will be kept busy with a variety of themed workshops, live performances and storytelling on offer, plus street parades and much more! Truly an occasion with something for everyone, spit spot and get lost in the enchanting world of Mary Poppins, and make your way across the Portside Precinct of Maryborough from August 26-29, 2021.
From Day One to Three, get inspired and let your creative side show, with a number of quirky events available at Gataker’s Artspace including a Recycled Materials Workshop. And for the younger festival-goers, celebrate the Art of Storytelling and attend a Practically Perfect Decorated Umbrellas workshop and Imagine Everything is Possible storytelling session with Gail Robinson, over at The Story Bank. There will also be the Maryborough Open Gardens coinciding from August from August 28-29, plus a free Brolga Live performance at the Poona Community Hall. Find out more
Then on the fourth day, join us for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Day in the Park.
Day in the Park:
Just like a good book, we’ve saved our most memorable chapter until last with the Day in the Park. The chim chiminy, chim chim cherry on top, Day Four of the Mary Poppins Festival includes spoonfuls of sugary sweet entertainment, trivia, workshops, and competitions to wrap up celebrations (in the most delightful way) for another year.
Highlights of the day’s back-to-back program of events include The Great Nanny Race and Chimney Sweep Challenge along Richmond Street, along with k. The Grand Parade will be making its way through the Portside Precinct from 12:30pm, followed by Fashion in the Park (don’t forget to dress up and grab some prizes on the day for best dressed!), and an afternoon performance of Teddy Bear Picnic in Wonderland in Queens Park. Other events and activities to look forward to on the day include trivia sessions, Kiddywinks Puppet Theatre at the Bond Store Basement, storytelling at the The Story Bank, and much more!
The Mary Ann Steam Train will also be chugging its way through the grounds on the day, departing from Macaliser Station in the Mary River Parklands from 10am (pricing ranges from $3-$12). There will also be MELSA Minature Train Rides available all day, departing from Queens Park (for just $2 per/person). To view a Day in the Park’s program in full, click here
Stay and play:
There is more than meets the eye in one of Queensland’s oldest cities. The heritage-listed streetscapes form the perfect backdrop for a day out on the town, and while you relish the local cuisines and explore the Bond Store, you’ll be surrounded by striking art thanks to The Maryborough Mural Trail, and history with The Story Bank, Mary Poppins-themed crosswalks and Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial Trail.
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum 
Maryborough Mural Trail 
Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial, Queens Park
Mary Poppins Festival 2021 is proudly sponsored by Fraser Coast Tourism & Events, Fraser Coast Regional Council, Tourism & Events Queensland, and University of the Sunshine Coast