Following last week’s Campbelltown City Council meeting, the focus was, unsurprisingly, on the return of the traditional parade as part of Fisher’s Ghost festival later this year.
The parade has been absent for seven years, with 2019 the last year it was activated.
A vote to bring it back, even if it’s only for this year’s festival, was big news for the Campbelltown community and beyond.
However the festival itself will be huge in 2026, because it will mark the 200th anniversary of the start of the Fred Fisher legend.
As if that wasn’t enough reason for a big festival, 2026 is also the 70th anniversary of the Fishers Ghost Festival.
The Fisher’s Ghost Festival Advisory Committee, an initiative of Mayor Darcy Lound last August, was tasked with looking at the best way to celebrate the two 2026 milestones.
The proposed program for the 2026 Festival adopted by council last Tuesday was developed through a collaborative process, combining the feedback and input from the advisory committee with expert input from council officer, experienced in the history and delivery of the festival and cultural programming.
The highlights of the festival will include traditional activations such as the Fisher’s Ghost Carnival at Campbelltown Showground, Fisher’s Ghost Twilight Streets in the Campbelltown CBD over two days, and the Fisher’s Ghost Fun Run at Western Sydney University’s Campbelltown campus.
Two other festival favourites will be part of the 2026 program, Fisher’s Ghost art award exhibition facilitated by Campbelltown Arts Centre, and Fisher’s Kids – creative, educational workshops, performances and activities specifically designed for younger audiences.
The advisory committee also recommended the delivery of “a special, once in 200 years program to “honour the history of Fred Fisher while refreshing and modernising key festival elements to drive stronger youth and broader community engagement, all under a distinctive spooky theme’’.
“The 200 year anniversary of Fred Fisher’s Ghost presents a rare and compelling opportunity to create something truly unforgettable,’’ the committee said in its report.
“To mark this significant bicentenary milestone, a series of bold, immersive and community-focused activations are proposed. Each element is thoughtfully designed to spark imagination, encourage participation and leave a legacy.
“Together, these signature experiences will elevate the festival to new heights, reimagining Campbelltown’s iconic ghost story in contemporary ways while creating memorable moments that will resonate with the community long after the festival lights fade.’’
The suggested activations include:
Fred’s Grants for community-led events, empowering local groups and individuals to contribute directly to the celebrations.
Fisher’s Groove – a flash-mob style, participatory dance experience choreographed by a local dance group and led by the Fred mascot, engaging schools, youth groups and community organisations.
• Fisher’s Gig – “battle of the bands” style live music event as part of Twilight Streets
• Fisher’s Cup – large scale, inclusive community challenge event bringing together sporting clubs, schools and community groups.
• Footsteps of Fred Fisher – a self-guided storytelling trail and map connecting key locations associated with the legend of Fred Fisher.
• Ghosted on Queen Street – a coordinated business activation providing Queen Street traders with themed shop window kits inspired by Fred Fisher’s Ghost.
Thanks to a suggestion by Mayor Darcy Lound, a drone show will also be activated in conjunction with the parade on the first Saturday night and the Saturday night of the second weekend.
All up, it looks like it’s going to be a brilliant program, one that elevates the festival to new heights in 2026, and, hopefully, for many years to come.