There is only one way to describe the Mary Poppins festival – The festival honours the author of the Mary Poppins books, Pamela Lyndon Travers, who was born Helen Lyndon Goff in an upstairs bedroom of the former Australian Joint Stock Bank building in Maryborough on 9 August 1899, transformed now into our wonderful Story Bank.
Watch as nannies race each other pushing prams in the great Nanny Challenge; chimney sweeps compete in the Chimney Sweep Dash while Mary Poppins characters come to life from the pages of books and mingle through the crowd.
The Story Bank Garden will bloom into a whimsical Flower Market for the Mary Poppins Festival. Wander through the garden and visit the charming flower stall, where you can select your very own card flowers, colour them in, and arrange a one-of-a-kind bouquet to take home. A playful, hands-on activity for all ages, bringing a touch of creativity and magic to the day. Entry to the Story Bank is 'FREE' on the day.
This year's Mary Poppins Festival will be held on Sunday, 5 July 2026. For further details visit the official website.
Photo: Paul Beutel