ASYLUMFEST

AsylumFest is a three-day horror book and pop culture festival in the buildings of Mayday Hills, a former 1800s psychiatric facility.

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AsylumFest incorporates the festival itself, complete with panels, workshops, dealer’s tables, and gaming, plus the Mayday Hills Ghost Story Competition, the Mayday Hills Short Horror Film Competition, and two scholarships for creatives to apply for.

 

The Australasian Horror Writers Association will also be running panels and a workshop, as well as hosting the Australian Shadows Awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

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Our first festival launched in 2022 with great success, and we are building upon that foundation to bring a truly special horror-filled weekend each year at Mayday Hills.

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After all, where better to hold a horror con?

AsylumFest 2023 will be held October 27 - 29 in Mayday Hills located within Beechworth, Victoria.

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Mayday Hills operated from 1867 to 1995 and was one of the largest mental health facilities in the state, with over 1200 patients and 500 staff at its peak. Today, it is a heritage site that hosts various cultural and artistic activities – including ghost and history tours and of course, AsylumFest!

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HOW TO GET THERE

Beechworth is about 3 hours from Melbourne, along the Hume Freeway by car.

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Alternatively, you can take a bus and a train from Melbourne to Beechworth, which takes around 5 hours.

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Driving from Canberra, it’s about 4 hours via the Barton and Hume highways.

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You can also fly from Sydney or Melbourne to Albury, which is about 40 km from Beechworth. The flight time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.