Please note: this is an old article
It was published in February 2015, so the information may be out-of-date.
Greater Shepparton is the place to be this Labour Day long weekend, jam-packed with a range of events sure to please everyone.
Events include the SheppARTon Festival to the AFL NAB Challenge between Hawthorn and North Melbourne, Mad Cow Mud Run, the Dream Machines drawing exhibition at the Shepparton Art Museum, International Women's Day event, Bill Muir Indigenous National Basketball Tournament and much more.
Greater Shepparton Deputy Mayor Cr Fern Summer encouraged locals to explore everything on offer.
"We have something for everyone, with sport, arts and cultural events and activities to encourage people to get active," Cr Summer said.
"There has been a strong state wide media, marketing and promotional campaign specifically for the AFL NAB challenge game by Council in partnership with Shepparton Show Me to encourage visitors to come to Shepparton for the long weekend and it is expected that all accommodation in the region will be booked out."
"This event will see 10,000 attendees and we anticipate at least half of these to be travelling from outside the Greater Shepparton region generating a million dollar economic boost to the region"
"The Shepparton Festival has also embarked an extensive state and regional marketing campaign as their 16 day festival of events kicks off showcasing all the great things Greater Shepparton has to offer arts enthusiasts.
"Shepparton Art Museum's major international exhibition of American car drawings, Dream Machines, opens to the public on Saturday 7 March, and will be a great blending of art and car culture.
"The mud cow mud run is anticipating record entries with almost 2000 participants while the basketball is expecting 1000 people from across all parts of Australia over the weekend.
"Council staff have worked hard to package up and leverage off some exceptional events over the long weekend for our community to celebrate and to attract as many visitors as possible to our region generating significant economic and social stimulation for our businesses and tourism industries.
"This is also a good opportunity to remind locals to discover your own backyard and encourage your visiting friends and relatives to come to Greater Shepparton for the weekend and explore not only our events but our local restaurants, wineries and farmgate and shopping as well."