Opals, with a twist of gin

Lightning Ridge’s most anticipated annual event is back, with the Opal and Gem Festival set to take over the town from Wednesday 23 July to Saturday 26 July.

Organisers say the 2025 festival is shaping up to be one of the biggest in recent memory, with stalls nearly booked out and a strong mix of traditional highlights and fresh attractions.

Event coordinator Louise Kelly confirmed that only a handful of outside stall spaces remain.

“It’s been busy,” she said. “We’ve got a huge variety this year – lots of returning stallholders and a few new ones, including people coming from as far as Coober Pedy.”

The festival will feature a wide selection of jewellery, rough and finished opals, gemstones, fossils, art, tools, lapidary equipment and demonstrations, clothing, pet accessories, and a diverse range of handcrafted goods.

The event is also a showcase for the region’s lapidary craftsmanship, with live demonstrations and equipment on display.

Local organisations will again have a strong presence, including the Royal Flying Doctor, the local State Emergency Service, Local Land Services, the Lightning Ridge Historical Society and the Lightning Ridge Miners Association. […]

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Phil Bunker from Bunker Distillery with the Festival Gin he has created especially for the Lightning Ridge Opal and Gem Festival. Photo TWH