๐ย Everyone Welcome! Come Along, Join the Fun & Be Part of the Celebration! ๐
The Festival of Hockey is being held to celebrate the completion and official opening of the redeveloped Geelong Hockey Centre at Stead Park โ a fantastic new chapter for Hockey Geelong! Join us as we celebrate our fantastic new pitch and pavilion at Stead Park, bringing our hockey community together to mark this exciting milestone.
Itโs a chance to celebrate the hard work, support and dedication that have made our new facilities possible, reconnect with old friends, meet new people and look forward to an exciting future for hockey in Geelong. With hockey games, junior clinics, social activities and plenty happening across the weekend, thereโs something for everyone!
๐ Friday 23 โ Sunday 25 October 2026
๐ Geelong Hockey Centre, Stead Park
Everyone is welcome! Bring your family, friends and anyone who loves a great community celebration. Come along, join the fun and help us celebrate our new home! ๐๐
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24
- ย 9.30 am – Event opening – by Hockey Geelong President, Graeme Dent
- 9.45 am – Presentation of Inaugural Game jumpers – Under 8s Nominated players – see Greg Burns for any enquiries (further specific info to follow shortly).
- 10.45 am – Inaugural game – please show your support for our regions youngest players as we celebrate the New Era and cut the ribbon on the Geelong Hockey Centre.
- 12 noon – Hockey Club Melbourne –ย Juniors Clinics with Greta Hayes – supported by Sharks facilitators
- 2 – 4 pm – Club field allocations – please note allocated times with fields/ends to be confirmed on the day.
We encourage Clubs to use this time to host and showcase their Club to the wider community and utilise the field time to engage with players both new and old.
- Continuous Come & Try / Skills game – 2x club reps requested as follows:
10.30am – Saints
11.30am – Geelong
12.30pm – Newtown
1.30pm – Corio
3.00pm – Torquay - Club Stalls are encouraged to be available all day again to showcase your Club and encourage recruitment into the hockey community. Club material and merch encouraged. Please provide your own trestle tables and 3×3 marquee if required. Locations to be confirmed on the day – these will either be on the northern lawn or pitch-side concourses.
- Umpire Q&A Clinics – hosted by South West Umpire Coordinator John Larkins. We encourage any novice or experienced umpires to use this opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge in the space.
- Sausage sizzle provided by Saints Hockey Club 10 – 4.
Saturday’s activities will wrap up at 4pm sharp, to finalise prep for the Tiger Turf Celebration Dinner – for registered guests only.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 25
- 10.30 am – Event opening – by Hockey Geelong President, Graeme Dent
- 11.00 am –ย Walking Hockeyย – come and join us for a fun, friendly, and low-impact game of hockey. Equipment will be provided so there’s no need to bring anything.
- 12.30 pm – Masters Showcase – ‘The Slowdown’.ย Have your Deep Heat, comfy shoes and soft chairs at the ready for this display of ‘old-school’ hockey.
- 2.00 pm – informal Corporate Cup/ Celebrity game. Parents, family members and past players are invited to join us for this fun game. The game is focussed on less experienced and new players so the emphasis will be on walking and slow pace. Running is optional.ย Details TBC and subject to interest. Please get involved if you would like to assist facilitate or participate in any of these games.
- 2.00 – Shoot Out Comp. To end the weekend on a high, step right up for your 8 seconds of fame – will you become a hero, or leave it all on the line? Winner stays on, a fight until one ultimate champion is declared. Will your name be on everyone’s lips? Sign up on the day – GKs please see Benno Champion to sign up to be between the sticks – bonus points for any GK who can slot one with their gear on! Open to all ages and abilities, we will aim toย it keep it fun and fair – we are fighting it out for glory, not sheep stations.
- Festival of Hockey Cup
Entries are requested from each local Club – 1 team consisting of:
- Round Robin – all local Clubs enter 1 team
- Mixed – 7 per side – Min 1 O45, 2 female, 2 Junior on field
- Summer rules – ยฝ field, no GKs, no hits/lifted balls
Draw will be made on the day, in the fight for the very first Festival of Hockey Cup – which we would love to launch as an annual friendly comp. Again – please get around this and if you can assist with management of the games, please step forward. A modest fee per team, to cover umpires costs, may be required and confirmed shortly. We request all clubs participateย please.
- ย Sausage sizzle provided by Newtown Hockey Club 10 – 2.
- 2.30 – EVENT CLOSED!ย
