The 2026 Festival of Fisher’s Ghost will be the biggest Campbelltown party ever, but it’s going to cost ratepayers a pretty penny.
On the 70th anniversary of the iconic – and world famous – festival, residents and visitors will get to enjoy a raft of signature events, including ones never before seen in Campbelltown.
These include giant drone shows employing 500 drones on two consecutive Saturday nights, and the return of the traditional street parade.
The drone shows will celebrate the Fisher’s Ghost story, Campbelltown’s heritage, community identity and future aspirations through a contemporary and family-friendly visual experience.
Another signature initiative for this year is a proposed professional curation of a Fisher’s Ghost song as part of the 2026 program.
These will complement traditional festival activation such as Twilight Streets and the Carnival, as well as the Fisher’s Ghost art prize and fire works two Saturday nights in a row.
However, a report to Campbelltown City Council for tomorrow night’s ordinary meeting will provide a reality check about the cost of the 2026 festival – nudging $1 million.
The report says $323,500 in additional funding will be needed for the parade, drone shows and Fisher’s Ghost song.
This would bring the total estimated festival budget to $806,400.
The report recommends the extra money needed would come from a re-allocation from Council’s ICT Digital Strategy funding “with a view to recoup in future years budget allocations’’.
“The 2026 Festival of Fisher’s Ghost represents a milestone for Campbelltown, marking both the 70th anniversary of the festival and the 200-year anniversary of the Fisher’s Ghost story,’’ says the report.
“The Festival of Fisher’s Ghost is an important part of Campbelltown’s history and a long-held community celebration.
“The proposed initiatives build upon the previously endorsed festival program and seek to strengthen community pride, celebrate local heritage and create memorable experiences for residents and visitors.
“The focus will be to deliver an inclusive and memorable festival that celebrates local heritage, strengthens community pride and creates lasting benefits for residents and visitors.’’
This Tuesday night, councillors will vote on whether to endorse the extra funding for the festival.
