Autumn Events Aplenty
Dust off your cowboy boots, grab your picnic blanket and start planning that weekend road trip because the Autumn events calendar is bursting at the seams. From food to theatre, dance and art, we’ve got you covered for all the fun and fabulous things happening IN and around Noosa!
GOURMAY MARY VALLEY FOOD FESTIVAL
Wednesday 1 May-Monday 1 June, various locations.
www.gourmaymaryvalley.com.au
May is “Feasting Season” in the Mary Valley’s abundant food bowl, just 45 minutes from Noosa! Join the locals to celebrate the region’s abundant produce including pineapples, beans, dairy, organic beef, macadamias, avocadoes, persimmons, edible bamboo, pumpkins, goat’s cheese, greens, yuzu, wine, edible native plants and more! Meet the people who bring food to the table while enjoying farm tours, workshops, breakfast, camp oven lunch and dinners, damper, bush tucker, art and film, competitions, music, dancing and more!
DON’T MISS: Festival Day, 25 May and the Gala Dinner on 1 June.
Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 May, 9am-4pm.
Petersen’s Farm, 2 Riley Road, Woolooga.
www.petersensfarm.com.au
Celebrating the annual harvest of rosella fruit, the Big Rosella Field Day is jam-packed with delectable homemade relishes, chutneys and preserves – all made with love on-site in the Woolooga Farm Kitchen (formerly CC’s Kitchen). From farm tours, tastings, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and a Young Farmer competition, the festival offers a chance to learn more about Petersen’s Farm and their rosella recipes.
DON’T MISS: Slathering freshly-baked scones with CC’s Rosella Jam!
Thursday 16-Saturday 18 May
Gympie Showgrounds, Gympie
www.gympieshow.com.au
Immerse yourself in the rich agriculture history of the Gympie District Show when it returns in 2024 with the theme ‘all that glitters is gold’. Enjoy school displays, fireworks and local producers showcasing local produce, side-show alley rides galore, agricultural displays, cooking displays and competitions. DON’T MISS: The rodeo action!
Friday 24-Sunday 26 May, various locations.
www.goomeripumpkinfestival.com
After a three year hiatus, get your pumpkin on at the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival. Explore unique handmade crafts, demonstrations and live music, indulge in the wide range of street food or take part in (or sit back and enjoy) events such as the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll; the Pumpkin Olympics; Pumpkin Polo and the Pumpkin Street Parade. There will be twilight markets, workshops, wine and cheese under the stars and a Clovely Estate Gala Dinner at Barambah Estate – there is something for everyone and all ages.
DON’T MISS: The chance to compete in the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll.
Thursday 30 May-Sunday 2 June, restaurants and various locations throughout Noosa.
www.noosaeatdrink.com.au
Foodies rejoice! Noosa’s tastiest foodie event is back with mouth-watering events, workshops, demonstrations and, of course, the much-loved Festival Village which this year will be in The Woods, Noosa. There will also be a series of events in the new-look Beach Garden so grab your pals and head along for a weekend of gourmet goodness and delicious wines, beers and ciders. Unique, innovative and downright luxurious dining events are also on offer in key venues but get in quick, dining events always sell out fast! Turn to pages 50-57 for your comprehensive guide to all things ‘NED’!
DON’T MISS: Catalina Pre-Launch Party on 30 May with Canggu, Bali hot spot Mason, and award winning Brisbane restaurant, Agnes. Also, the Locale Gala Dinner on 2 June will close the Festival in style with Locale Chef Chris Hagan, Ben Williamson from Agnes and Jason Saxby of Raes at Wategos!
Saturday 1-Sunday 30 June, various locations.
www.eatlocalmonth.com.au
With more than 130 events and 50+ on-farm experiences, pack an empty esky to fill with goodies from the various farms, wineries, distilleries, and producers in this abundant region. Enjoy authentic paddock-to-plate experiences, workshops and more.
DON’T MISS: The Winter Harvest Festival, 29 June at Kalbar with produce stalls,local wines, beers and spirits – and the World-Famous Tractor Pull!
SUNNY COAST SHOWDOWN – SHOWFEST!
Friday 21-Saturday 22 June, various locations.
www.sunnycoastshowdown.com.au
The winning scripts have been chosen and six short films (scripted and unscripted) are now in production ready to be showcased at a red carpet open-air cinema for the Showdown Showcase! This year, the event has expanded to incorporate a mobile phone film festival and our sister publication, Hello Sunshine Magazine, will be hosting a Lunch with Legends including Sunny Coast Showdown founders Jon Coghill (of Powderfinger fame) and Dan Munday (of TV’s Survivor series) plus special guests! There is more to be announced so keep an eye on the Showdown socials and see page 32.
DON’T MISS: Book tickets to our Lunch with Legends at Bella Venezia.
Friday 19-Sunday 28 July, various locations.
www.noosaalive.com.au
Don’t miss an impressive 10 days of theatre, fun, fashion, film and much more with premiere performances, comedy, film, exquisite ballet and quality theatre. Noosa Alive! brings together an abundance of culture across multiple venues throughout Noosa and surrounds.
Ignite your senses with live shows, literary events, thought-provoking, mind tingling performances by some of the best Australian and international performers, writers, musicians, artists, chefs and more. See page 34.
DON’T MISS: Tom Gleeson’s stand-up comedy show, Gear; the Up Close Experience where magician Harry Milas will share his secrets
Friday 26 July-Sunday 4 August, various locations on the Sunshine Coast.
www.thecuratedplate.com.au
The flavours of the Sunshine Coast will come alive with the return of The Curated Plate and, if last year’s event was anything to go by, you will be spoilt for choice. From farm tours and workshops to distillery and craft beer tours and tastings; long lunches, late dinners and breakfasts with bubbles!
The Curated Plate will see the leading venues and menus of the Sunshine Coast come alive. We’re planning another Podcast + Pinot long lunch with special guests from our ‘Everyone Has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa’ podcast for an afternoon of Savvy! Surprising! and Spirited! conversation. Stay tuned for the full program!
DON’T MISS: Our own Podcast + Pinot with local stars of the culinary world – in conversation and on the plate!
MORETON BAY FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL
Friday 23-Sunday 25 August
229 Hornibrook Esplanade, Margate
www.moretonbayfoodandwine.com.au
Hungry for more?! The annual Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival has all the essential ingredients from celebrity chefs to pop-up bars, local produce, and live entertainment. Held over three scrumptious days of foodie heaven, head along to sample the delicious delights of Moreton Bay’s amazing food bowl.
DON’T MISS: Our very own Matt Golinski is sure to be dishing up the goods!
Friday 27-Sunday 28 September, various locations
www.mundubberablueberryfestival.com.au
With three huge events spread over two days, become a ‘local’ and experience Mundubbera’s finest foods at Locavore 4626 – a night of fine dining showcasing amazing local produce. Then enjoy a Berry Big Day Out – a vibrant artisan market under the gum trees on the beautiful Burnett River with over 80 food stalls brimming with baked goodies, food trucks, arts, craft, hand-sewn fashion and so much more. End your experience with a live concert, the Blueberry Jam Sesh, with rock, country and indie artists.
DON’T MISS: The opportunity to camp out for a truly memorable experience!
Saturday 28-Sunday 29 September, 9am–4pm, various farms. Self-drive tour.
www.cooloolafarmtrail.com.au
Set over two delicious days, experience the multitude of local flavours at the Cooloola Farm Trail weekend with local food and farm tours that take you behind the scenes of some of the working farms in the Gympie region. Local farms open their gates to share knowledge of their farming practices and how they are helping to grow the region’s reputation as major food producers.
DON’T MISS: Visiting the Slow Food Noosa Snail of Approval recipients.
