A Month in the Country
It’s the perfect time of year for country race days, flying kites and to head to Alice Spring for the Desert Song Festival.
NSW
The Peter Allen Festival, September 5th–8th Grab your maracas and head to historic Tenterfield for this four-day event celebrating the late singer’s contribution to Australian and international arts and culture. thepeterallenfestival.com.au
End2end Festival, September 14th Spend a leisurely Saturday sampling the Hunter Valley region’s best food and wine. Festival tickets provide entry to four different venues offering gourmet meals, chef masterclasses, live music, boutique beer and, of course, tipples from 20 local wineries. Adult tickets $53.95 (shuttle bus tickets an additional cost). end2endfestival.com.au
Henty Machinery Field Days, September 17th–19th In the heart of the nation’s food bowl, Buckingingah Creek offers a great atmosphere. Try the farm-gate produce and see awardwinning fashion. Over 3500 businesses on site mean there’s something for everyone. 8am–5pm. hmfd.com.au
Marulan Kite Festival, September 22nd Welcome the Spring equinox with this annual family-friendly gathering at Marulan, 30 kilometres north-east of Goulburn. The theme this year is Time Flies, and the program includes a kite workshop, mass kite fly-off, parachute running and loads of entertainment. 9am–3pm. Tony Onions Park. 0401 894 185; marulankitefestival.org.au
ACT
2019 Craft ACT Members Exhibition, September 12th–october 26th Discover the latest trends in contemporary craft and design at this showcase curated by Craftact. Held at the Craft + Design Centre, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra. (02) 6262 9333; craftact.org.au
Floriade, September 14th–october 13th Now in its 32nd year, Floriade remains one of Canberra’s most iconic events and this year’s theme, World in Bloom, will transport visitors to garden scenes from around the globe. As well as tiptoeing through tulips (and more than a million other bulbs and annuals), there is a diverse program of other experiences. Commonwealth Park. 1300 852 780; floriadeaustralia.com
TASMANIA
Junction Arts Festival, September 4th–8th Extraordinary Experiences in Unusual Spaces is the theme of the ninth annual festival in Launceston. Enjoy talented musicians and bands at the Fountain Bar in historic Princes Square, sample incredible food and wine, or take younger arts aficionados to Little Devil for children’s shows and award-winning cabaret. (03) 6331 1309; junctionartsfestival.com.au
Great Eastern Wine Weekend, September 6th–8th Yoga paired with bubbles and cheese is just one bespoke event of this indulgent weekend. Learn how to cook game over fire and coals, join a sunset cruise, visit oyster farms, enjoy a picnic or simply partake of wine tastings and dinners aplenty. Coles Bay. freycinetlodge.com.au/wineweekend
NT
Mahbilil Festival, August 30th– September 1st Held in the parklands around Jabiru, the festival proudly showcases local Kakadu culture with art, music, traditional dance, bushfoods and workshops. Cnr Civic Drive and Kinchela Road. mahbililfestival.com
Desert Song Festival, September 6th–15th Featuring performances by the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and honouring the work of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, this event celebrates the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Held in various locations around Alice Springs and among the stunning gorges of Central Australia. 0409 003 004; desertsong.com.au
QUEENSLAND
Birdsville Races, September 6th–7th Each year more than 6000 racing enthusiasts and adventurers converge on this remote town on the edge of the Simpson Desert for a weekend of thoroughbred racing and outback entertainment, including films and music. Entry tickets are $35 per day and must be purchased in advance. (07) 4656 3300; birdsvilleraces.com
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, September 20th–29th This year celebrates 70 years of Toowoomba’s iconic floral showcase with 77 events on offer, including 1100 hectares of private gardens and public parks on display, as well as a beautiful floral street procession. More than 180,000 spring bulbs and seedlings will bloom throughout the city. Free and ticketed activities at various locations around Toowoomba. 131 872; tcof.com.au
Capricorn Food and Wine Festival, September 26th–29th Central Queensland’s premier food and wine event is held on the banks of the Fitzroy River alongside Rockhampton’s elegant sandstone buildings. The four-day festival celebrates the region’s produce; visitors can choose from an array of local restaurants’ signature dishes offered at pop-up kitchens. Festival passes start at $15 per day. Riverfront precinct, Quay Street, Rockhampton. capricornfoodandwine.com.au
SA
Outback Family Race Day, September 1st A great day out celebrating the last meet of the season, with the backdrop of the Flinders Ranges at Port Augusta racecourse. Entry is $10 with free entry for children under 18. 243 Racecourse Road, Port Augusta. 0447 105 545; paracing.org.au
Barossa Gourmet Weekend September 6th–8th Three days of masterclasses, tastings and workshops, long lunches and garden parties, showcasing worldclass wines and regional food. Choose from 28 events in various locations. barossagourmetweekend.com.au >
South Australian Spring Garden Festival — Mount Pleasant, September 21st Garden enthusiasts will be in their element amid a wide selection of plants, accessories and information from guest speakers, including ABC’S Gardening Australia presenter Sophie Thomson, specialist garden clubs, plant suppliers and nurseries. Entry $5, children under 15 get in free. 8am–3pm. Mount Pleasant Showground. 0418 301 121; saspringgardenfestival.com.au
VICTORIA
Desert Lines: Batik from Central Australia, until November 17th Tessa Mackay’s painting Through the Looking Glass of actor David Wenham won the Packing Room Prize in the 2019 Archibald Prize and will be at the Tarrawarra Museum of Art from September 14th until November 5th.
Bendigo Art Gallery presents selected works from the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, each illustrating the unique and distinct batik styles of five central desert communities: Ernabella, Fregon, Utopia, Yuendumu and Kintore. 42 View Street, Bendigo. (03) 5434 6088; bendigoartgallery.com.au
Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival, September 5th–15th Kyneton welcomes spring with displays of daffodils, flower shows, open gardens and exhibitions of performing and visual arts, crafts and markets, plus renowned cuisine and hospitality. A highlight is the Dog Dash and the finale, a Grand Parade through Kyneton’s main streets. (03) 5422 2282; kynetondaffodilarts.org.au
Tesselaar Tulip Festival, September 14th–october 13th With almost a million tulips on display in Tesselaar’s fields, the colour is absolutely amazing. Enjoy the fun and festivities plus live entertainment and market stalls, tractor rides, performances, souvenirs and games for all. Open daily 10am– 5pm. $29 per adult, children under 16 free. 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan. (03) 9737 7722; tulipfestival.com.au
Archibald Prize 2019, Tarrawarra Museum of Art, September 14th– November 5th At this exclusive Victorian venue for Australia’s oldest and most prestigious annual art award, you’ll see a snapshot of Australian culture — from politicians and celebrities to sporting heroes and authors. 313 Healesville–yarra Glen Road, Healesville. (03) 5957 3100; twma.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Shinju Matsuri, September 7th–15th The Festival of the Pearl encapsulates the best of Broome and its multicultural and pearling heritage with a line-up of events, such as art exhibitions and awards, a long-table dinner, floating lanterns, a parade and a sculpture exhibition on Cable Beach. A range of free and ticketed events are available. shinjumatsuri.com.au