Festivals & Events in NSW

For more information about these festivals and events, contact Tourism New South Wales.

January 2007

Cowra National Federation Festival
A celebration of community pride celebrating the town’s historic importance in Federation.
Australia Day Celebrations
Various venues all over NSW.
18th Annual Show and Shine – Ballina
An annual event for owners of vintage and veteran cars.
Telstra Tamworth Country Music Festival
Australia's premiere country music event.
National Tomato Contest – Gunnedah
A competition to see who can grow the biggest and best tomato, with additional classes for cucumbers and onions. The event includes a talent quest, free entertainment and auction with all proceeds going to Riding for the Disabled.

February 2007

Alstonville Rodeo
Rough-riding competitions for both women and men in all age groups. Bar and entertainment.
Glen Innes Pastoral and Agricultural Show
A week-long event with competitors and exhibitors travelling long distances to take part. Ring events include woodchopping, shearing, showjumping and campdraft.
Coofs Coast Ocean Swims
Great family fun day to raise money for local children’s charities and sporting clubs. Three swims around the beautiful clear waters of Coffs Harbour jetty for ages 10 to 80 years. The 200m swim is race 2 of the North Coast Ocean Swim Series involving the Yamba Ocean Swim, Coffs Coast Ocean Swim and South-west Rocks Ocean Swim.

March 2007

Minerama Gem and Mineral Festival – Glen Innes
A community-run event with field trips, lapidary displays and exhibitions.
Narrabri Twilight Rodeo
An exciting spectacle where daring riders pit their strength against the roughest broncos and bulls in a maximum points contest.
Nosh on the Namoi – Narrabri
Set on the banks of the Namoi River, this is a food, wine and cultural event for the whole family.
Hunter Valley Craft A-Fair
An exhibition of arts and crafts from every imaginable craft represented by the finest exhibitors with free workshops and demonstrations.

April 2007

Taste 2007 in Big Sky Country
The New England and north-west region’s food and wine festival held at Tamworth racecourse.
Lake Macquarie Heritage Afloat
A festival of traditional and classic boats and Lake Macquarie’s most distinctive event.
Western Plains Country Music Festival – Dubbo
Held over Easter, the Orana Country Music Festival comprises street concerts and busking, charity concerts, hoe-downs and a fun day.
Maclean Highland Gathering
A truly Scottish event at the ‘Scottish town in Australia’ with caber throwing, highland dancing and piping competitions and a grand finale concert.
Ironman Australia Triathlon – Port Macquarie.
See the ironmen battle it out in this extreme sport.
Easter Fishing Classic – Coffs Harbour
Open to both professionals and amateurs, with fishing in the creeks, off the beach and out at sea.
National Youth Week
Various youth activities will be happening in Coffs Harbour during this week – event calendar available at www.youthweek.com.au

May 2007

Australian Celtic Festival – Glen Innes
An annual event focusing on all things Celtic – music, tartans, art, culture and sports events.
Great Lakes Bridge Congress
Three-day tournament held in Forster, with tournaments for pairs and teams.
May Orchid Show – Macksville
A colourful display of orchids and flower arrangements. Get the best tips and advice on how to grow orchids and create stunning arrangements.

June 2007

Australian Folk Festival – Kiama
A week-long event celebrating the Australian folk tradition with performances of songs, music and dance.
Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft
Three-day comprehensive programme of rodeo and campdrafting events for both open and junior riders.
Hats off to Country – Tamworth
Three fabulous days and nights with 60 shows provide a mid-year country music festival.
ICON Australia All Girls Surf Showdown – Lennox Head
Australia’s biggest female surfboard riding competition, held on Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

July

Rusty Gromfest – Lennox Head
The largest surfboard riding event for grommets (young surfers) attracting the hottest young surfers in Australia.
Splendour in the Grass – Byron Bay
An annual two-day music festival with local and international acts, held at Belongil Fields.
Coffs Mountain Marathon
Hosted by Two Wheel Promotions, this challenging test of off-road skill and survival has just 6km of bitumen on the entire 100km journey. Structured to cater for both enthusiasts and hard-core endurance mountainbikers with a choice of competing in the 100km 'Coffs Hard' or the 50km 'Plantation Coffs Soft' events.

August 2007

Zoofari Fun Run – Dubbo
Walk 5km or run 8km at this annual event around the Western Plains Zoo.
Coffs Harbour Gold Cup Carnival
The biggest social event of the year hosted by Coffs Harbour Racing Club – punters paradise and a day full of horses, entertainment and glamour with Fashions on the Field.
Bellingen Jazz and Blues Festival
This annual festival showcases some of the best jazz and blues in the country – highlights include an opening breakfast in Church Street, a Supper Dance, a welcome cocktail party and Jazz by the Riverside in the heart of Bellingen.
September
East Coast Sculpture Show and Homecoming Festival – Ballina
A celebration of art and the alternative lifestyle.
Ballina Rivafest
A weekend of water activities, wine, food, market stalls, music, dancing and fireworks with the Richmond River as centre stage.
Celebration of the Outback – Inverell
Three days of bush poetry, competitions and entertainment kicking off with a pub crawl on the Friday night.
Grafton to Inverell International Cycling Classic
This one day event is a 228km ride over some of the most demanding terrain in worldwide cycling, and one of the main events on the world cycling calendar.
Ballina Cup
The biggest day on the Ballina racing calendar with fashions and entertainment.

October 2007

Griffith Festival of Gardens
The 11th annual festival offering visitors a chance to see Griffith’s delightful gardens in bloom.
Hobby Expo – Ballina
Exhibition and sale of work for crafts, hobbies, folk art and local history.
Coffs Coast International Buskers and Comedy Festival
Eight days of fabulous international street theatre and comedy in and around the streets and certain evening venues around Coffs Coast.

November 2007

National Cherry Festival
A celebration of the harvest season for the community of Young, known as the ‘Cherry Capital of Australia’.
Nymagee Outback Music Festival
A three-day programme featuring a wide range of music styles and a variety of artistic performances attracting hundreds of people to the small village of Nymagee.
Land of the Beardies Festival – Glen Innes
This two-week festival that takes its name from two stockmen with flowing beards who guided the first settlers to Glenn Innes. Festivities include a rodeo, colourful street parade, a beard growing competition, music and markets.

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