7 regional NSW festivals in 2024 for music, food and country lovers

From gourmet food and whiskey appreciation to busking competitions and street parades; these New England High Country festivals are too good to miss.

Sitting pretty in the northeast of New South Wales, surrounded by verdant national parks, sun-baked pastoral countryside and architecturally beautiful townships, New England High Country is fast becoming known as a gourmet’s paradise. Every year more and more travellers venture inland to the cellar doors, museums, and art galleries of the region, and time their stay with the many New England High Country festivals and markets that dot the calendar. These eight are worth planning your next holiday around.

No matter what you’re into, there’s a New England High Country festival for it.

1.Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show

(17-18 Feb)

Don’t be fooled, this isn’t just a festival for farm machinery enthusiasts, the bustling Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show actually caters for everyone. Held in the small town of Walcha, known for the surrounding natural beauty, this two-day celebration is a favourite of families, offering up a dedicated kids’ corner as well as a tractor trek and pull, a vintage trucks, cars and bike display, food and market stalls, and even a much-anticipated street parade.

Release your inner rev-head.

2. Glen Innes Show’s Gourmet Fiesta

(9-10 February)

Attracting over 8000 hungry visitors, the Glen Innes Show’s Gourmet Fiesta features celebrity chefs, artisan food stalls, cooking demonstrations and lots (and lots) of delicious food to dive right into. Held as part of the bigger Glen Innes Agricultural Show at the iconic Glen Innes Showgrounds, this festival brings together the best of local produce, regional food producers and global food trends to create one of the region’s most popular foodie attractions. When you’re not eating gourmet treats, take a stroll down Glen Innes’ historic main street, where you’ll find colonial architecture and local produce.

Find celebrity chefs, artisan food stalls, cooking demonstrations and more.

3. Walcha Agricultural Show

(8-9 Mar)

Following on from the Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show, the region also plays host to the much bigger Walcha Agricultural Show a month later when the days are slightly cooler. Calling itself an “authentic country show”, this annual event attracts visitors from all over NSW as locals showcase their livestock. Equestrian events, sheep shearing, dog jumping and a Demolition Derby are just some of the events to watch. While the pavilion holds an abundance of flowers, farm produce, homemade treats, arts and crafts and the best wool exhibition around.

4. Seasons of New England

(22-23 March)

A short drive away in Uralla, an architecturally impressive town with a fascinating gold fossicking history, Seasons of New England is held every year to promote local producers, makers, and creators. With over 100 local businesses representing the region’s wineries, distilleries, breweries, and gourmet food producers, this one-day festival also showcases local musicians and artists. Between meals, hop on the Uralla Heritage Walk and experience 50 historic buildings dating back to the heady gold-tipped years of the 1860s.

Discover local producers, makers, and creators. (Image: Peter Torning)

5. Australian Celtic Festival

(2-5 May)

Held from Thursday through to Sunday over the first weekend of May each year, the Australian Celtic Festival offers up an incredible 200 events in various venues across the Glen Innes region. In celebration of the history, culture and traditions of Ireland and Isle of Man, this four-day event includes official Celtic ceremonies, re-enactment groups, highland games, Kirking of the Tartan, the Celtic Cultural Awards, Celtic dance championships, boutique stalls including whiskey appreciation, poet’s breakfast, and the popular Celtic Food Trail. Families will love the animal displays, street parade, dedicated children’s entertainment and the various fringe events that happen around the area alongside the festival.

Celebrate the history, culture and traditions of Ireland and Isle of Man.

6. Armidale Big Chill Festival

(18-19 May 2024)

With huge national headliners (this year it’s The Ruebens and Diesel), Big Chill Festival is set to be a crowd favourite again in 2024. Taking advantage of the clear skies in and around Armidale, this winter festival features two days packed with music (everything from Indie to electronic), local food and drinks, art installations, interactive events and a colourful kid’s zone. Once the sun sets, you can even dance the night away under starry skies, before eating your body weight in local produce around the fire-pit, then head back into town to visit a local bar or two.

Enjoy live music at Armidale Big Chill Festival.

7. Eat Drink Live New England

(November)

Known for its sparkling gemstones, the small township of Inverell turns into a foodie paradise every November when Eat Drink Live New England comes to town. Visitors can shop everything from locally butchered meats to gluten-free doughnuts. There are cooking demonstrations, food tastings and live music as well as a play area for the kids. When you need to escape the heat, head to the nearby Inverell Art Gallery, housed in two beautiful heritage buildings dating back to the 1870s, or drive an hour away to pristine Kwiambal National Park, where you can enjoy the dramatic waterfalls and calm streams of the Macintyre River.

Enjoy cooking demonstrations, food tastings and live music.

Plan your next festival adventure at newenglandhighcountry.com.au.