Halfway Print Fest

05/04/2023

Heads high and hearts full 💛 our last year running Halfway was so so special. Full of familiar and new faces, amazing live music and lots of kind feedback on what the day means to YOU. We have every hope that the HPF community and event will continue, but for now it’s over and out. Love always, Adele & Kate

Photos by the wonderful 📸

01/04/2023

Today’s the day! We’re kicking off at noon 🦵 come on down and make some new friends and buy some zineeees

30/03/2023

The DIY Lab is back back again ✂️ we have 2 guests in the space this year - the gals will be running a Wagga Wagga Zine Zine workshop throughout the entire day and Tabitha from will be hosting a DIY stamp workshop at 1pm. Drop in to either or just do your own thing!

29/03/2023

Forecast is looking good for the weekend 🌈 perfect for our gigs happening on the deck throughout the Fest! Lineup below

2PM - The Secret Migraines (Melbourne)
3PM - That Geraldine Chick (Wagga)
4PM - Hearts and Rockets (Melbourne)

24/03/2023

Next on the Stallholder Zine Screen block is ValboComics 🚗 Valbo’s first HPF was in 2020 when she’d just moved to Wagga. It was so wonderful to meet Valbo and introduce her to the local creative community!

Q1. What do you love about zines and do you remember what your first one was?

I love the flexibility and freedom! My first zine is called Valbozine #1 - it was a collection of my drawing about my everyday life in 2016 -2017.

Q2. How would you explain what a zine is to someone who doesn’t know?

It's a self-publishing publication that allows creativity to flow.

Q3. What’s an idea for a zine you’ve had forever but haven’t yet created?

I've been thinking about making a zine about becoming a mother. My son is almost 2 now and I finally managed to draw one cartoon. My goal is to complete it before Halfway Print Fest!

Q4. What is it about HPF that keeps you coming back?

Warm and supportive people, interactive crowds. Love it!

17/03/2023

Our next Stallholder Zine Screen is with .tooth_ 💙 Mackenzie is a Halfway OG and she holds a special place in our heart!

Q1. What do you love about zines and do you remember what your first one was?

My first zine was actually made at a workshop run by you guys! I can’t remember what it was about now, but I remember having so much fun and I was hooked on zine-making from then on! I love that you have so much creative freedom with zines and you can basically do whatever you want, it really lets you create for the sake of creating.

Q2. How would you explain what a zine is to someone who doesn’t know?

A self-produced work, usually in the form of a booklet, about anything and everything!

Q3. What’s an idea for a zine you’ve had forever but haven’t yet created?

A zine about my top recommended books and why you should read them. 

Q4. What is it about HPF that keeps you coming back?

I love the community of artists and writers that gather every year, it’s so nice seeing familiar faces and new ones!

22/02/2023

New Stallholder Zine Screen alert 🚨 pls get to know B aka .zine

Q1. What do you love about zines and do you remember what your first one was?

i love that zines are so approachable. you don't need any particular skills, and even people who don't consider themselves to be creative can easily make a zine. there's no barriers to entry with zines. i also love the community that zines have helped me find. 

my first zine would've been when i was a teenager; the local art gallery held a zine making workshop. i don't remember my very first zine, but i know the early ones were usually illustrations of whatever emo song i was vibing at the time. 

Q2. How would you explain what a zine is to someone who doesn’t know?

poorly. i get asked a lot and i still haven't got a proper definition. i think this month's definition is: a zine is a self published work, not created with profit in mind. 

Q3. What’s an idea for a zine you’ve had forever but haven’t yet created?

i've been wanting to do a zine collaborating with some of the local graffiti community. this zine would be interviews with a view of understanding the basics of graffiti and slaps (stickers). 

Q4. What is it about HPF that keeps you coming back?

this will be my second year at HPF. last year was a lot of fun - everyone was so friendly and it was great to see people coming from all over to support zines and print making. it also gave me an opportunity to debut my cyanotype prints, and the friendly reception gave me confidence in that area of my art making practice. 

it is also great to see what others in the scene are up to! sometimes we can get stuck in a bubble when we don't explore outside our local area, and the opportunity to mix with other creators and zinesters from around australia is something I really appreciate about HPF. 

i'm looking forward to sharing new zines and cyanotype prints this year.

17/02/2023

Halfway Print Fest needs new Directors 😎

Got a passion for zines? Love Halfway Print Fest? Want to keep it going? Let us know!

We’re looking for the next director/s of the Riverina’s iconic independent publishing fair. A few key details:

- Generally, there is a peak period for about 3-4 months prior to the event
- Everything from social media to email to admin can be up to 2 hours per week during this peak
- We collected resources and advice from some development activities last year that may help give the event a boost

If you want to learn more about running HPF, please send a short message to [email protected] expressing your interest and when it suits you to get together for a discussion.

Hope to hear from y’all 💛

05/02/2023

Still accepting stallholder applications for another week. Get yours in before 5pm Sunday 12th! Ps no stallholder fees here - sharing your stuff at HPF is free free free.

28/01/2023

Time for another Stallholder Zine Screen, where we ask our much loved returning stallholders a few questions 💕 Up next

Q1. What do you love about zines and do you remember what your first one was?

I love that zines can be whatever you want, whatever you feel like. So much space for creativity, exploration and experimentation. The first zine I ever made was a short comic about 2 friends trying to find the 'best burger'. It was rushed and rough but as good a place as any to start. 

Q2. How would you explain what a zine is to someone who doesn’t know?

How to describe zines... it's so difficult to define because they can be anything! A homemade magazine is probably the simplest way to describe them.

Q3. What’s an idea for a zine you’ve had forever but haven’t yet created?

I really want to make a zine of my favourite 'lazy-day' recipes, wholesome food I make when I have little energy or money. Maybe you'll see it someday soon!

Q4. What is it about HPF that keeps you coming back?

HPF has such a joyful community vibe. You can walk in alone and make 20 new friends, stall holders or fellow patrons, everyone is always so friendly and fun.

20/01/2023

Introducing ✨Stallholder Zine Screen - where we spotlight our ama-zine (heh) returning stallholders and ask them a few questions. First up

Q1. What do you love about zines and do you remember what your first one was?

I love four things - the diy, lo-fi, cheap creation of a physical tangible object, how quickly you can go from your idea to ready to distribute, that a zine’s value transcends the monetary and finally the ritual of folding- a mix of meditation and aiming for the perfect crease.

My first zine was an A4 folded to 8 pages about the dictator Idi Amin with a foldout poster of Idi Amin shaking John Howard’s hand. I think I did it in the late nineties.

It had recipes for human flesh, a story about the novelty single I heard as a small child and a bunch of other stuff.

I made thirty copies and most were distributed guerrilla style, inserted into random books at the library, oven mitts in Big W and other places. It’s still my favourite way of distribution.

Q2. How would you explain what a zine is to someone who doesn’t know?

I would give them one :p. Perhaps explain it as pre-digital social media. People can publish what they want when they want. If they were really keen to more I would go into the origins of the fanzine and talk about how they were an important way of connecting and sharing info through the 70s and 80s.

Q3. What’s an idea for a zine you’ve had forever but haven’t yet created?

That’s the beauty of zines for me. You have the idea, you make the zine. The only limitation is your own motivation.

Q4. What is it about HPF that keeps you coming back?

I love swapping, I love gifting, I love being in the same space as people who completely understand your need to tell everyone about your latest thoughts on hall and oates or lily from letters and numbers. I love that it is in my hometown, I love watching the local zine community grow thanks to the work of kate and adele. It’s my favourite event of the year.

10/01/2023

We’re about to kick off a series of FREE zine workshops with . If you’re a teen (or know one) head to the Library’s insta to book a ticket ✂️

06/01/2023

Want to join the HPF community? 🫶 Stallholder apps are open on our website!

02/01/2023

New year, fresh start. The 5th Halfway Print Fest will be the last for Festival Directors, Adele and Kate. Get those stallholder apps in and make plans to send us off with a bang on April 1st. Let’s party like it’s 2018!

27/12/2022

Mark your calendars! Halfway Print Fest is on April 1st 2023. This is not a prank 😀 Join us at Thirsty Crow Brewery to celebrate 5 years of Halfway Print Fest with all of your favourite festivities. Stallholder apps are now open on our website.

10/04/2022

And just like that the fourth HPF is officially done 🤘 Thanks always to for having us, the stallholders for sharing their amazing work and the public for coming down on such a grey day!

09/04/2022

Halfway is halfway. Down here for another 2 and a half hours! Come say hi and flick through the offerings 💛

26/03/2022

Venture into the zine swamp, if you dare 😎

Put your boots on and meet us in the Brewer's Den on 9 April at Halfway Print Fest '22.

Halfway Print Fest is a celebration of independent publishing held halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, in the regional centre of Wagga Wagga. HPF brings together zine-makers, bookmakers, writers, designers and artists from the region and surrounding cities for a weekend of immersive DIY culture.

20/03/2022

This time 2 years ago! Grab your best bud and make plans to be at Halfway Print Fest '22 on April 9. It's going to be a really nice time 👯

Halfway Print Fest 2020 might be feeling like a warm, paper-smelling memory, but our mates at Thirsty Crow are keeping the party going. They’re pouring the Queen Amber ale throughout the month of March! $1 of every schooner sold of the Queen is being donated to HPF. Stop by for a quick one in the fresh air.

Thank you to Craig, Katie, Scratch and the whole Crow team for being so wonderful.

Image by James T Farley

07/03/2022

Have you heard the good news? Halfway Print Fest is back! The Riverina's much loved zine, book and print celebration is happening from noon, on Saturday April 9, at Thirsty Crow. Chuck us a 'like' if you're coming along 😎
https://www.halfwayprintfest.com/

04/02/2022

That’s right folks, pop it in your calendar 🗓 HPF2022 will be at on Saturday April 9. The zines will be popping, the beers will be flowing and the smiles will be wide!

02/02/2022

Join us today over lunch on Yarra Valley FM 📣

Luke Sticky and Cora Zon will be back on the radio on Yarra Valley FM on Thursday 3rd February 2022 from 12 noon to 1pm on the show 'ZINE'. Special guests on the show this week will be coordinators of Wagga Wagga's Halfway Print Fest - Adele Packer and Kate Allman. Tune in live on 99.1FM or listen through the power of the internet. 99.1 FM -The Voice of the Valley! https://yarravalleyfm.org.au/presenters/cora-zon (Image description: Adele Packer and Kate Allman stand in the middle of Halfway Print Fest.)

23/01/2022

We’re back back back again 👋 Halfway Print Fest has been rescheduled for April 9! We hope you’re still keen to join us in Wagga for a day of fun.

If you’re new around here, EOIs ARE STILL OPEN. Head to our website to learn more (link in bio). If you’ve already submitted your interest just sit tight and we’ll be in touch in March. We understand lots of things have changed in the last year, so if you’re unable to make it to the new proposed date pls just let us know.

Things are still changing everyday but let’s keep our fingers crossed that we can see each other in April!

29/09/2021

We’re disappointed to have to tell you that we’ve decided to postpone this year’s event due to Covid-19. With ongoing difficult circumstances and border restrictions, it seems too risky to go ahead. 

We do have every intention of rescheduling for a date next year, when things look a bit safer and brighter. As soon as we decide on a date we’ll be sure to let you know!

Hope to see you on the other side of 2021 🧡

31/07/2021

✨ EOIs OPEN: https://www.halfwayprintfest.com/

Howdy folks, hope y’all are good wherever you are. Great news - Halfway Print Fest 2021 is on! Thirsty Crow is ready and we are putting the plans in place for another very cool Fest. The Sticky Institute bus is coming up too, so we are certainly trying our darndest to make this happen. Saturday November 6 is the day to pop in your calendars and if you’re interested in having a table, please head to our website and fill out a super short EOI (having a table is free, free, free and EOIs are open until August 31).

Safety is our highest priority. If NSW’s current situation does not improve over the coming months or any other areas are impacted by restrictions, border closures and the like, we will reassess our plans. We want to see you so please look after yourself and each other.

Let us know if you have any questions and we hope to share a beer with you soon.

Love,
Team HPF