Come join us for a spectacular celebration of the Scenic Rim’s bountiful harvest at Winter Harvest Festival! It’s the essence of Eat Local Month in one unforgettable, flavour-filled day!
Date: Saturday 29 June
Venue: George Street, Kalbar
Times: 10am – 4pm
Welcome to The Homestead Kitchen, where our Scenic Rim Food Ambassadors and local producers unite to share their passion and expertise. Through hands-on demonstrations and insightful talks, you’ll connect, learn, and be inspired by the heart of our local food community. Here’s what’s on the agenda:
10.45am – Zero Waste Cooking with Cameron Matthews
Discover techniques to minimise food waste and maximise flavour, creating delicious dishes that reduce environmental impact.
11.45am – Preserving the Harvest with Alison Alexander
Explore canning, pickling, drying, and fermenting to enjoy seasonal produce year-round.
12.45pm – Reinventing the Classic Steak & Veg with Josh Lopez
Elevate the classic steak and veggies combo with creative twists using local root vegetables.
1.45pm – The Farmer’s Feast Panel
Join Kay Tommerup (Tommerup’s Dairy Farm), Paul Martin (Summer Land Camels) and Jaimi Pennell (Forgotten Sound Farm) as they share stories and insights into sustainable farming and the importance of supporting local agriculture.
As an add on experience for Winter Harvest Festival attendees, we are offering a small number of workshops hosted by our local producers at The Emporium, Kalbar. These workshops have been designed to provide you with a unique opportunity to connect with experts and deepen your understanding of local produce and sustainable food practices.
10.15am & 11.30am – Grow Your Own Mushrooms with Scenic Rim Mushrooms
Learn how to grow mushrooms at home using a Scenic Rim Mushrooms grow kit (supplied as part of the workshop). Suitable for primary school aged children through to adults.
1pm – A Wine & Cheese Pairing Journey with Aspen from Barney Creek Vineyard
Explore the art of pairing wine and cheese as Aspen from Barney Creek Vineyard pairs their wines with Scenic Rim cheeses for a delightful tasting journey. 18+ only.
These workshops are only open to Winter Harvest Festival ticketholders. Entry is $10pp with limited availability.
These workshops have now SOLD OUT.
The Roots & Revelry Stage is where local musicians provide the soundtrack to the day-long winter harvest festivities.
11.15am – 1.00pm: Lyric
Experience the captivating talent of Lyric, a 20-year-old singer/songwriter from the Scenic Rim.
1.30pm – 3.30pm: Silk ‘N’ Oak
Originally from the Scenic Rim, Silk ‘N’ Oak, blend folk, rock, country, blues, and funk into a their unique style.
Our youngest Festival attendees can explore the harvest season in this lively and interactive space. The agricultural and food-themed activities on offer are both educational and entertaining. Here’s what to expect:
Kids can also visit the Get Growing activity at the Urban Utilities marquee to plant lettuce, parsley, cherry tomato, or rocket to grow at home, with the help of water, and with seedlings sourced from local Jasmine Urban Farm.
Additionally, discover a range of other family-friendly onsite activities including:
Gear up for the legendary Tractor Pull Competition, a highlight of the Winter Harvest Festival presented by Community Bank Kalbar.
Watch as local teams face off against a 12-tonne tractor, igniting intense competition as they win cash prizes for their nominated local sporting group or community organisation.
Experience the rivalry between local butcher and farmer teams as they try to win back the title from newcomer and last year’s champions, Canungra Kokoda Barracks!
11.00am – Junior Tractor Pull
2.30pm – Senior Tractor Pull
Are you a local team eager to compete? Find out more and sign up for the competition here.
10am – 4pm – on Edward Street in the Kalbar School of Arts & Memorial Hall – Free Entry
Long before the era of refrigeration and supermarkets, countless generations of women (mostly) grew and prepared food for large families in the Scenic Rim. They were thrifty and creative, using produce they had grown in their own gardens or sourced from nearby farms.
This event pays tribute to these pioneers in the ‘eat local’ movement. It’s a celebration that honours the history of food preparation and preservation and the recipes passed down through generations, from a time when you would bottle your tomatoes to last all year and ensure you had enough jam for the pantry, along with a couple of extra jars for the neighbours too.
On the day you will discover the lost culinary arts and meet our Scenic Rim picklers and preservers. Stock up on jams, marmalades, preserves, relishes and more and take the winter Harvest home with you.
Presentation Program:
11am – Sandwich spreads and secret relishes with Sally Peach from The Pickling Project and Val Brown
Sally shares her family meat paste recipe which a generation will remember on their school sandwiches. The secret behind Val Brown’s legendary local tomato relish will also be revealed!
12pm – Small batch butter making then and now with Kay Tommerup from Tommerup’s Dairy Farm
Kay shares her love of butter making with her mum and will demonstrate how she still makes it today with son Harry
1pm – Celebrating the Shrub with Alison Alexander from ABC Radio Brisbane
Alison demonstrates a fruit vinegar dating back to the 1600s that nowadays is used to make non-alcoholic drinks and also cocktails
2pm – What to do with veggie leftovers with Lizz Hills from The Cottage Collective
Lizz demonstrates how to create a simple ‘counter top’ veggie pickle – reduce food waste, save money and create a tasty little jar that’s good for your health!
With over 60 passionate growers, producers and artisans showcasing their finest offerings, this festival promises an unforgettable foodie adventure. From farm-fresh produce to handcrafted creations, there’s something to delight every palate and preference.
Discover the lineup of stallholders here and start planning your ultimate Winter Harvest Festival experience.