Any minute now, our social media streams will be swamped with half naked hippies enjoying another week of Burning Man in the States. But don’t get jealous, there’s something just as liberating and experimental happening in your own backyard.

Now in its 9th year, the Peats Ridge Festival, set in a pretty valley an hour north of Sydney, ticks all of the festival prerequisites and more. Music acts like The Black Seeds, Gossling and John Butler Trio, art installations, all sorts of quirky workshops and a passionate focus on sustainability. Oh and of course, acrobatics - always top of the list.

A chance to escape the drudgery of real life; the three-day event falls over New Years Eve, with the calendar change marked by an emancipating Masquerade Party.

As Peats puts it, the festival is a “wonderland of the weird and all about the vibe. Happy, smiling, joyful and kooky.” We like the sound of that.

Tickets are on sale now at peatsridgefestival.com.au.

Photo courtesy of Peats Ridge Festival.

This article was written by Samantha Chalker from Saving For Cuba.