Fruit, Blossom and Autumn Leaf Festivals in Australia
(Non-Heritage, Commercial)
JANUARY
The Kalamunda Summer Stone Fruit Festival
Kalamunda, Western Australia
Date: January
Summer is when the hills come alive with peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines and cherries. The Kalamunda Farmers Market Stone Fruit Festival is a celebration of what the Darling Ranges are famous for ... sweet, fresh, juicy fruit, straight off the trees.
FEBRUARY
The Chinchilla Melon Festival
Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia
Date:
February
Known as the ‘Melon Capital’ of Australia, Chinchilla produces a quarter of Australia’s melons and celebrates the fact biennially in February. Join with the locals for some hilarious fun and festivities as events, such as melon skiing, melon iron man, melon bungee, melon bullseye, pip spitting and melon tossing.
MARCH
The Harcourt AppleFest,
Harcourt, Victoria, Australia
Date: March
Hundreds of hectares of apple orchards cover the Harcourt Valley. About 40 percent of Victoria's apples are grown in Harcourt. Varieties grown in Harcourt include;- Pink Lady, Royal Gala, Fuji, Sundowner, Red Delicious, Granny Smith Apples, Packham, Williams (WBC) and Beurre Bosc Pears. In addition cherries, peaches, plums and nectarines are grown.
Loriendale Orchards Apple Day
Travel along the Barton Highway, north of Canberra, ACT
Turn right at Spring Range Road.
(2km north of border between ACT/NSW)
Date: March
Select from the varieties of international and Australian apples and pears. Buy organic produce from local producer stalls: farm vegetables, dried fruit, toffee apples and honey. Watch the pressing of fresh apple juice on the wooden apple press - C19th styled machine. Enjoy a range of organic foods - crepes served with Loriendale apple sauce and Devonshire teas served with delicious scones, muffins or cakes. Stroll through the orchard, complete with free range bantam hens foraging among the trees.
Relaxing background music provided by local musicians and choirs.
The Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Harvest Festival
Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia
Date:
2nd, 3rd & 4th March 2012
Stanthorpe is located south west of Brisbane and is nestled in the heart of the granite belt. It has the reputation as being Queensland's coolest town, with some locations in the area reaching 1000 metres above sea level. Frosty mornings and the odd snowfall during winter are not uncommon. The high altitude and unique soil provide excellent growing conditions for not only grapes, but for stonefruit such as peaches, apricots and nectarines along with a variety of apples and berries. The Biennial Apple and Grape Harvest Festival, held each even numbered year in February/March, celebrates the harvest of the district.
APRIL
The Goulburn Valley Pear Fest
Goulburn Valley, Victoria, Australia
Date: The next Pear Fest will be held in April
The Goulburn Valley is unsurpassed for produce in Victoria. With its warm dry sunny climate and abundant water in the river valley areas, it is the centre of tomato growing, and home of fine pears, peaches, plums and apricots. The cooler climate of the ranges produces cherries, apples, quinces, fresh herbs, herbal teas, and free range eggs. The diversity of floral species produces some of Australia's finest honey.
The Dargo Walnut Festival
Dargo, Victoria, Australia
Date: Easter Sunday
Dargo is known for its groves of century-old walnut trees that line the valley floor. Dargo walnuts can be purchased in the town's food and wine outlets. At the turn of the century the town had the largest walnut tree, covering quarter of an acre. The annual Walnut Festival is held on Easter Sunday at the Community Hall and Recreation Reserve.
The Donnybrook Apple Festival
Donnybrook, Western Australia.
Date: The next Apple Festival will be held over the Easter weekend, 2012.
Donnybrook is a two and a half hour drive south of Perth and is home to the biggest apple growing industry in the state.
Donnybrook, known as the state's apple growing region, used to be home to the Granny Smith but now produces many other popular varieties of apples, like Lady Williams.
The original seedling tree came up on a property to the west of Donnybrook and is now 63 years old. Other varieties grown are Sundowner, Pink Lady, Fuji, Gala and Royal Gala. Visit a commercial orchard and take a stroll through the trees. When fruit is in season you can sample produce or purchase some to take home. Cider is also produced in the area. Apple harvest takes place from approximately March to May each year.
AUTUMN LEAF FESTIVALS
The Armidale Autumn Festival, Tumut's Festival of the Falling Leaf, the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival the Yea Autumn Festival the Pemberton Autumn Festival and the Bright Autumn Festival are held in April.
MAY
The Dandenong Chestnut Festival
Mt Dandenong, Victoria, Australia
Date: May
The Festival started as a 'Chestnut Roast' within the pre-school grounds at Mt Dandenong and has grown into a major event in the Dandenong Ranges, held at the Kalorama Reserve on the first Sunday of May each year. There will be fairground rides, buskers, market stalls, roast chestnuts (of course), Devonshire teas, raffles, face painting, plants & showbags.
The Wandiligong Nut Festival
Wandiligong, Victoria, Australia
Date: May
In April and May, walnuts and chestnuts fall from the trees in orchards, backyards and along the lanes of Wandiligong where they are gathered by pickers, residents and visitors. The Wandiligong Nut Festival celebrates this harvest by hosting a two-day festival.
The Kellybrook Winery Cider Festival
Wonga Park 3115 Victoria Australia
Date: May
Cider-making demonstrations, apple juice, toffee apples, cider, mulled cider, apple brandy, apple desserts, Morris dancers, food, entertainment.
The Gladysdale Apple and Wine Festival
Gladysdale Primary School, near Powelltown, Victoria, Australia.
Date: May
The local orchardists display many varieties of apples grown in the `Valley` which include a number of new varieties. Apple tastings are available and people can purchase.
The Tallong Apple Festival
Tallong, New South Wales (Southern Highlands), Australia
Date:
Sunday 6 May 2012
A day of fun and celebrations to recognise the heritage of Tallong.
* lots of street market stalls
* displays of various classic vehicles & farm & industrial engines
* a wide variety of food & refreshment stalls
* lots of games for the kids
* a chance to be 'William Tell' and shoot an arrow through an apple with the Goulburn Bowmen
* a parade of fancy dressed children with the theme of 'Clowning around at Apple Day'
* a photography competition centred on Tallong with the theme 'The Apple of My Eye'
* Mrs Ts Apple Day Bake-off competition (pies, cakes, tarts, chutneys, etc)
* various bands and entertainers performing thoughout the day
* art, quilt and craft displays
* displays by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Rural Fire Brigade
JUNE
The Gayndah Orange Festival
Gayndah, Queensland, Australia
Date: Held every 2 years in June
Gayndah, the citrus capital of Queensland, celebrates the Gayndah Orange Festival, marking 25 years on 6 June 2011. This is a festival for all ages. There is a procession of decorated floats, orange competitions and more.
JULY
Willunga Almond Blossom Festival
Date: July
Willunga will burst into life this July as it celebrates the annual Almond Blossom Festival. This year’s festival promises something for everyone.
The Tweed Valley Banana Festival
Murwillumbah, Tweed Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Date:
July
Masked Ball, Banana King and Queen, Street Parade etc. There are also banana recipes on their web site...
AUGUST
The Mallee Almond Blossom Festival
The Mallee, Victoria, Australia
Date: August
The Festival coincides with the blooming of the almond trees at the beginning of spring. It is centred on the Kyndalyn Park almond orchard just outside Robinvale on the Murray Valley Highway. It's your chance to see the blossoms of Australia's largest almond orchards up close.
SEPTEMBER
The Yeppoon Pineapple Festival
Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia
Date: September
Unfortunately, the program does not seem to offer anything for those who are keen to learn about pineapple growing or preparing!
The Cowra Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
Cowra Japanese Garden, Cowra, New South Wales, Australia
Date: September
Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) is a Japanese celebration heralding the arrival of spring every year when the cherry blossoms are at their best. The festival is held at the Japanese Garden in Cowra and is based on the traditional Japanese festival of the same name. During this time the Garden celebrates the coming of spring, focusing on Japanese culture and the beauty of the delicate cherry blossom.
OCTOBER
The Batlow Apple Blossom Festival
Batlow, New South Wales, Australia
Date:
October
Batlow is well known for its apples, supplying to both the Australian and export markets, and also grows cherries and stone fruit. The town's main landmark, the "Big Apple", stands testament to the orchards which have been vital to the town's economy for over 120 years.
The Sorell Fruit Farm Cherry Blossom Festival
Sorrell, Tasmania, Australia
Date: October
A spectacular display of cherry blossom from late September until mid October. There are also cascades of apple blossom.
NOVEMBER
The Yarra Valley Strawberry Festival
Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Date: November
Venue: St. Patrick's Primary School in Lilydale.
Broome's Mango Festival
Broome, Western Australia
Date: November
Every year in November (usually the last weekend) Broome celebrates its mangos, so come and explore everything you ever wanted to know, taste and feel about this delicious tropical fruit. 4 days filled with fantastic "mango" orientated events.
Bacchus March Strawberries & Cherries Trail
Visit the businesses along the strawberries & cherries trail, picking up stamps along the way to go in the draw for great prizes.
Date: November
DECEMBER
The Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival
Manjimup, Western Australia
Date: December
One event, the cherry pip spitting competition, has been running for over five years and attracts all sorts of spitters from around the state. The organiser continually ups the competition each year by inviting world-renowned cherry pip spitters from just about anywhere he can find them (which is no mean feat).
The Young Cherry Festival
Young, New South Wales, Australia
Date: December
Young's National Cherry Festival is celebrating its 61st Anniversary in 2010. Young – also known as the Cherry Capital of Australia – celebrates the cherry season and harvest (November-December). The Street Parade will be held on the 4th of December. Other highlights of the festival include the Cherry Queen Ball & Crowning.
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