Award-winning rock cabaret writer-performer Geraldine Quinn, also known for her appearances on Spicks and Specks and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, will be one of two guests headlining this year’s Winterwords Festival.

The festival being held between Wednesday 20 and Sunday, 24 August has a fabulous program of both guest authors and presenters including local talent.

Eventgoers will be in for a treat when Ms Quinn performs her renowned cabaret show 'The Passion of Saint Nicholas' on Saturday, 23 August at 7:30pm at the Beechworth Soldiers’ Memorial Hall.

Ms Quinn will run a workshop the following morning after her show at 11am 'Adapting a True Story' to explore the challenges of writing about real events and people.

Also headlining the exciting event will be legendary figure in the Australian poetry scene TT.O. (Pi O).

Born in Greece, the poet was brought up in Fitzroy and is a chronicler of Melbourne, its culture and migrations.

With his partner Sandy Caldow, the pair will deliver a poetry-visual art and poetry reading performance.

Ms Caldow writes poetry and makes art about empathy, ecology, community and place.

Winterwords president and creative director Janet Tweedie said among guest authors this year will be Sydney’s Liz Foster (The Good Woman's Guide to Making Better Choices), Troy Hunter (Gus and the Missing Boy, Gus and the Burning Stones), and Bright’s Siobhan O'Brien (All the Golden Light).

“Troy will be chatting with Margaret Hickey in a Crimewords session about her new book ‘An Ill Wind’ published on 1 July this year and I will be talking to Liz and Siobhan,” she said.

Among other creatives Albury-based Donna Caffrey working in textiles, collage and will offer a collage workshop.

Associate CSU professor Jenni Munday and a member of the Charles Sturt University Creative Practice Circle known for her creative works in the Visual and Performing Arts for many years will undertake a session on writing and performing monologues.

Two poets also from the Circle, local Frank Prem and CSU adjunct researcher Roxanne Bodsworth, will run a workshop together with Roxanne presenting one on feminist reconstruction of mythical tales too.

Festivalgoers can also tune in to a singing workshop run by Beechworth musician Leanne Murphy followed by a performance with members of the SongShed community singing group.

Ms Tweedie said Mr Prem will also facilitate a 'writers and poets’ breakfast at Beechworth Bakery, Valerie Crosse will run a Yoga workshop while Valerie will also present an 'Artchat' with Beechworth's Darren Pope.

“We will also have our Artwords exhibition, Beechworth Theatre Company will present a rehearsed reading of a newly written script and Roger Timewell will facilitate another Philosophywords session," she said.

“Beechworth Books will hold an Open Night after our official opening on Friday, 22 August too.”

A Winternudes art exhibition will also be presented by the Beechworth Life Drawing Group run by Kate O'Toole.

The festival run by the Winterwords Autonomous Collective committee – a small band of dedicated volunteers – the Collective received a government grant from Regional Arts Victoria of $4160 to help present Geraldine Quinn's show and workshop.

The community focused and financially accessible event in its fifth year is a festival of word celebration in every shape and form covering art, drama, discussion, music, poetry, prose and storytelling.

Ms Tweedie said the event is loved by many people and is an opportunity to head out in winter and have some fun.

“It's also a chance to see and hear and experienced writers, entertainers, poets and performers or whoever they may be without people needing to leave town to see them,” she said.

“It’s an event for the community by the community and I'm really happy many locals are involved again this year.”

For more information on the exciting program, visit www.winterwords.com.au.