Harvest the best of the Northern Rivers
Imagine a region where rolling hills meet sparkling coastlines, where ancient rainforests give way to lush farmland – and where the autumn air is filled with the scent of flowering natives and freshly harvested produce. Welcome to the Northern Rivers, a haven of natural beauty and culinary delights. This is the Harvest Festival™.
4 incredible weekends
4 unique regions
1 unforgettable journey
1-31 May 2025
We’re thrilled to have Paul West of River Cottage Australia TV fame joining a host of local food luminaries at this year’s Harvest Festival.
Catch Paul leading a number of in-depth conversations with local growers and makers at our Producers’ Hub at the Bangalow Showgrounds on Saturday, May 3, from 11am to 4pm.
On Sunday, May 4, he’ll be MC’ing our long-table community lunch at beautiful Summerland Farm in Alstonville.
Paul is a passionate advocate of growing food in backyards, cooking simple, nutritious meals and fostering connections to community and country.
He was the host of the cult classic lifestyle program River Cottage Australia and has also written and published three hugely popular books on growing and cooking food, ‘The River Cottage Australia Cookbook’, ‘The Edible Garden’ and most recently ‘Homegrown’.
Byron and Ballina Shires
May 2-4
Weekend one (May 2-4) highlights the Ballina and Byron Shires, with a curated Harvest Trail that winds through the picturesque hinterland, revealing hidden gems and artisan producers along the way. Enjoy a leisurely Sunday long-table lunch amidst the beautiful macadamia orchard of Summerland Farm, showcasing produce harvested within 50km of the farm.
Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley
May 10-11
During Weekend Two (May 10-11), the Festival shifts its focus to the Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley region. On Saturday, in the heart of Lismore's CBD, enjoy an incredible array of food, drink and entertainment at the Harvest Producers' Hub. While on Sunday, bring mum along to a specially curated day of Mother's Day special events.
The Tweed
May 17-18
Weekend three (May 17-18) takes you to the stunning Tweed, where you can indulge in a long-table dinner at Husk Distillery, featuring some of the region's top chefs and producers. Explore the Tweed's scenic landscapes and discover its thriving food and drink scene through our Trail and Producer Hub experiences.
The Clarence
May 24-25
The final weekend (May 23-25) celebrates the mighty Clarence, with more unforgettable experiences, extraordinary local produce and culinary delights. We're kicking off on the Friday afternoon in Grafton showcasing the region's finest artisan food and beverage producers at the iconic 'Barn'. Across the weekend, enjoy everything from farm tours to freshly crushed cane juice, to savouring the region's renowned seafood straight off the trawlers.
One of the great joys of discovering locally produced artisanal food and drink products like cheese, jam, gin, honey, rum and so much more is getting to meet the makers.
At our Harvest Hub, you'll have the chance to sample and buy an exquisite range of local food and drink products from our region's stars at an indoor farmers market-style event. Get up close and personal with passionate small business owners and hear the stories behind their unique brands. Join in walking tours, workshops, demonstrations and meet and greets designed to enrich your food and drink experience on the day even more.
Each weekend offers a unique Harvest Hub showcasing all the local region has to offer!
If your idea of foodie heaven is cruising along picturesque country roads and dropping into glorious farms, restaurants and cellar doors along the way, then the Harvest Trail is for you.
This iconic self-drive trail is a unique opportunity to spend two days wandering through the gates and into the paddocks, kitchens, distilleries and packing sheds of some of our finest food and beverage producers. It's the ultimate way of going behind the scenes to where the magic happens.
There's a Harvest Trail to explore every weekend of the festival
Children under 14 have general access to the Harvest Trails and Hubs for free!I want to showcase my business at the Harvest Festival
Are you a Northern Rivers Food member or a local farmer, artisan food producer, food or drink retailer, or restaurateur? Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are NOW OPEN for our 2025 Northern Rivers Food Harvest FestivalTM.
I want to volunteer at the Harvest Festival
Are you a lover of fine food and drinks, particularly those made in our local area? Are you a farmers' market fan, always keen to support our local growers, artisan food and drink producers, retailers and restaurants in any way you can? Well, how about channelling your passion into volunteering at the Harvest Festival?
