July in Queensland means clear skies and a chance to slip into a second layer. It also means lots of outdoor, food focused events before the temperatures start to rise again. Mark these Queensland Food Festivals on your calendar and take advantage of the great weather.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Week
I’ve written before about the Scenic Rim and the wonderful weekend I spent there. It’s a foodies (and winos) paradise. I have since been back and found even more great tastes and sights. Located in the caldera of an extinct volcano, the rich black soil supports a diverse range of small producers and larger farms. The Scenic Rim covers a wide area that includes, Mt Tamborine, Canungra, Boonah and several National Parks. The local council places a huge emphasis on supporting and promoting their food culture, including running Eat Local Week each year.
For Eat Local Week 2016, there are a wide array of activities including a number local lunches and dinners, a sustainability festival (Zest Fest), gardening and cooking workshops as well as a weekend of self drive farm gate activities. If you want to support local farmers and milk producers, Scenic Rim 4Real Milk is holding an open day at their farm.
The week culminates on July 2nd with the community focused Winter Harvest Festival at Aratula, with suppliers and producers and a fun tractor pulling competition. You’ll need your local veggies for that! Less than 90 minutes from Brisbane, this is a great day out. A fantastic introduction to Queensland Food Festivals.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Week
25 June – 3 July 2016
www.eatlocalweek.com.au
Good Food Month
Some Queensland Food Festivals focus on regions, some on produce, some on particular dishes. This one focuses on all of three. It’s a chance for restaurants to try new dishes and menu concepts, revisit old faves, partner with different chefs and to generally have some fun in the kitchen and share this with customers. There are numerous venues offering set menus for the month as well as a series of one off dinners. There are some big names visiting again this year including George Columbaris, Mark Best and Frank Camorra who are all doing special pop up or hat’s off style dinners. Whilst many events are in Brisbane, there are a number further afield on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and hinterland regions.
Without a doubt, the most popular event will again be the Night Noodle Market, at South Bank. The market is on for 12 nights from the 20th to 31st so you may like to make a series of shorter visits on your way home from work or to meet up with a group, so you can sample everything on offer. There’s also an OzHarvest event at St Stephen’s Cathedral that puts a spotlight on food waste. Something for all budgets so it’s worth visiting the website to see what’s cooking.
Good Food Month
1 – 21 July 2016
www.goodfoodmonth.com
Regional Flavours
Regional Flavours is happening on the weekend 16-17 July. Again at South Bank, it’s a chance to wander around the parkland with a fork permanently jammed in your hand, looking for your next fix. The weekend includes a producer show case (which sells out quickly – get in early); talks and cooking demos from the likes of Maggie Beer, Philip Johnson and Paul West from River Cottage Australia; live music, entertainment and of course, food trucks. It’s always a busy event so make sure you visit early or plan to spread your time over the two days.
Epicurious
Whilst you’re visiting, taking time to see whats growing in the Epicurious edible garden, down towards the River Quay end. It’s there all year around with various plantings, depending on the season.
Regional Flavours
16 – 17 July 2016
www.regionalflavours.com.au
A little further afield and also of note.
- Childers Festival – 30-31 July 2016 www.childersfestival.com.au
- Heartland Festival – 8-10 July 2016 www.facebook.com/HeartlandFestivalNorthBurnett
This list of Queensland Food Festivals is not sponsored – these are just some great events that worth getting out to and enjoying.
Sounds like a great foodie time of the year 😀
Only in Queensland… too cold and wet further south.
Another great post. Great weather in July in Queensland. Oh…I bought some bees wax cloths whilst I was visiting family in Victoria (Maldon). Both my sister and I bought some…she loves hers (and I am about to use mine. I got a packet with different sizes and designs. Perfect for a gift for someone who has everything!
It is the perfect gift – something to keep inthe memory banks. They take a little getting used to but I can’t do without them. I still have plenty of plastic in my kitchen but it’s a start.
Always so many festivals on I just can’t keep up. It’s exhausting :))
These are just the ones I knew of or had an interest. No doubt if I googled, there would be many more. It’s all about the festival these days (as your visit to Knit Fest has demonstrated).
Knitfest was a lot of fun. i adore yarn bombing!
Thanks so much for posting this, as, in the business of my life at the moment, I seem to miss out on a few things! I went to the scenic rim event when I lived out there and it was wonderful! I’m looking forward to going to the noodle markets! YAY!
Liz xx
These are just Brisbane ones Liz. I bet you have plenty of GC ones as well. You wonder when anyone has any time to do any housework ; )
I love the look of that edible garden, the colours are so vibrant!
It look a lot brighter these days as this was when it was first starting out. Definitely worth swinging past if you are ever in the area.