2026 Knox Seniors Festival

The Knox Seniors Festival is a celebration of the City of Knox's residents aged over 55 and recognises the valuable contribution they make to our community.  The 2026 festival will begin on 1 October 2026 with a month of activities across Knox and is run in conjunction with the Victorian Seniors Festival. The festival is community driven and includes free or low cost events.

We are interested in including events that showcase positive and active ageing such as social; sporting; education; cultural; multicultural; and intergenerational events.  The events must take place between Saturday 3 October and Friday 31 October 2026.

To promote active ageing by:

• decreasing social isolation
• increasing awareness of opportunities for social and physical activities within the community.

To promote seniors groups and organisations that support seniors’ activities by:

• increasing the membership and attendance of seniors groups
• increasing opportunities for networking with other like-minded clubs and organisations within Knox.

Knox City Council will provide the contributions from a grant received from the Victorian State Government. The application for funding is to assist with nominal expenses. 

You can apply for up to $600 towards your event.  You may not necessarily receive the full amount for which you have applied. 

The total contribution pool for 2026 is $6,250. 

Any seniors community, club, group or organisation operating in Knox interested in offering an activity catering primarily to older people from 3 to 31 October 2026.

 1. Clubs, groups or organisations must: 

• Be not-for-profit
• Be non-government and non-political
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or provide a Statement by a Supplier Form, from the Australian Tax Office (ATO)

If your organisation isn't incorporated and not registered as a not-for-profit legal entity, you will require an auspice who is one or both of these things.

• Be primarily for people 55 years of age and over and inclusive of all ages and abilities
• Not constitute a regular activity for your group(s)
• Be free or be affordable and offer value for money
• Address at least one of the following:
  • Encourage people to be more physically active
  • Promote social connections, particularly for people who might not usually participate
• Be held within the Knox City Council municipality
• Comply with relevant Council guidelines

As the event organiser you will need to: 

• self-manage the event
• promote the event
• conduct a survey of attendees with a questionnaire provided by Knox City Council.

• Venue hire
• Cost of transport for participants to and from your activity (within Knox only)
• Catering
• Promotion of event eg printing, advertising in community newspaper, newsletters
• Equipment hire
• Entertainment

• Activities that are
  • Profit making or commercial
  • Discriminatory
  • Asking for donations (charities and fundraising)
  • Purchase of alcohol
  • Events held in venues with Electronic Gaming Machines
• Bus trips and excursions (outside of Knox)

• Knox City Council will provide advice on publicity and other guidance where necessary
• Knox City Council will support promotion of the event

1. Close of applications:

Every club/organisation who wishes to be considered will need to submit the Knox Seniors Festival Application by 5.00 pm on Friday 17 July 2026.

Notification of outcome of application:

Knox City Council will endeavor to accommodate as many events as possible, but due to community spread of events, type of events and other factors for consideration, it will not be possible to guarantee inclusion of all events.  Successful applicants will be notified by Wednesday 29 July 2026.  Please note that decisions will be final.