New England Festivals, Shows & Events

Photo: Bohena Olives, Nosh on the Namoi, 2006

This is an updated list of New England festivals, shows and events. I still have more than thirty to add, but thought it better to get this list of 38 in all up.

When I started this list I was focusing just on Festivals. I have now added in shows and events. In preparing the list, I have tried to focus on things that I think might be of interest to those outside the immediate district.

• 12-14 January, Craftathon, Taree


• 19 - 28 January, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth. Australia's premier country music event. The Golden Guitar Awards will be on 27 January.


• February, Hunter Valley Music Festival


• 3 March, Comboyne Show, Comboyne


• 4-12 March, Festival of Whales, Nelson Bay


• 9 -11 March, Minerama, Glen Innes. Four day mineral and gem show.


• 10-18 March, 23rd Annual Lasiandra Festival, Wauchope


• 17-18 March, Wingham Show, Wingham


• 18 March, Port Stephens - Jazz At the Winery.


• 23 -25 March, the 5th Annual Newcastle Blues Festival


• 31 March, Nosh on the Namoi, Narrabri. Food and wine from multiple exhibitors.


• 7-8 April, Easter Powerboat Classic, Taree


• 5-9 April East Coast International Blues and Roots Music Festival, Byron Bay


• 22-30 April, Camden Haven Music Festival, Camden Haven


• May, New England Bach Festival, Armidale
• 3-6 May, Australian Celtic Festival, Glen Innes. One of Australia's largest festivals celebrating celtic culture.


• 11-13 May, New England Wool Expo, Armidale. Showcasing New England's fine merino wool, the industry that grows it and the fashions produced.


• 9 - 11 June, Non Conventional Homes Eco Tour, Taree. The Envirofair on the Saturday is followed by a two day self-drive tour featuring privately owned homes, commercial buildings and gardens constructed using earth friendly methods.


• July Hats Off to Country Festival, Tamworth. Mid year country music event.


• 3-5 August, Byron Bay Writers Festival, Byron Bay
• August, Newcastle Jazz Festival, Newcastle


• 17-19 August, 18th Bellingen Jazz and Blues Festival, Bellingen


• September, date TBA, Tastings of the Hastings, Port Macquarie. Annual food & wine Event


• September 7-9, Morpeth Jazz Festival, Morpeth


• 1-6 October, Watermark Literary Muster, Kendall. Writers & readers from Australia and around the world celebrating the literature of nature & place.


• October long weekend, This is Not Art, Newcastle. Australia’s premier independent arts and new media festival held in Newcastle each year over the October long weekend


• 13-14 October, Taree Show, Taree
• October, New England Regional Wine Show, Glen Innes. Story
• October, Saphire Festival, Inverell.
• October, Surfing the Cold Stream, Yamba. Arts fringe festival.
  October, Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo
• October, Armidale Women's Comedy Festival, Armidale
• October/November: Jacaranda City Festival, Grafton.The world-renowned Jacaranda Festival is held yearly from the last weekend in October to the first weekend in November. Inaugurated in 1935, this was the first of Australia's folk festivals and is based upon the magnificent spectacle of the hundreds of lilac-blossomed trees which grow in Grafton's broad tree lined avenues. It expresses the people's thanksgiving for the generosity with which nature blesses this part of the globe.
  November.


• 3-4 November, Wingham Campdraft Weekend. Wingham


• Land Of The Beardies Festival, Glen Innes. Each spring, Glen Innes celebrates its unique Celtic heritage with its Land of the Beardies Festival, a rare and entertaining mix of Celtic culture, typical Australian pastimes and traditional events. Story
• November. Thunderbolt Country Fair & Talent Quest, Uralla. Story
• November. Tenterfield Food and Wine Fesitival, Tenterfield


• 1-16 January 2008, Stamping Ground Dance Festival, Bellingen ?Coffs Harbour)