The much-loved Seasons of New England Expo is set to return this year bigger than ever, with organisers expanding the event to a full two-day program celebrating the region’s makers, producers and artisans.
Held in Uralla, the annual expo has become one of the New England’s most popular regional events, drawing visitors from across the region and beyond to explore locally made products, food, art and handmade goods. This year’s event will run across two identical days, from 9am to 4.30pm, allowing more time for visitors to experience everything on offer.
Founder and organiser Tara Toomey said the decision to expand the expo was made after testing a second day last year and listening carefully to feedback from stallholders and visitors.
“This is the first time we’ve actually done two full days,” she said. “Last year we added a second day in a very last-minute sort of way, and it proved it was a worthwhile strategy. So, we’ve adopted it and refined things after listening to stallholders and patrons.”
“We’ve decided to do two identical days in terms of opening and closing times, and we have around 140 stalls altogether.”
Interest from local businesses has been strong, with many choosing to participate across the entire weekend.
“A lot more people wanted to do two days than I had anticipated,” Ms Toomey said. “We decided we would let everyone just do what they wanted, they could pick Saturday, Sunday or both days, and we’ve been able to make that work.”
The result is a diverse showcase of the New England’s creative and agricultural talent, with visitors able to meet the makers behind the products, from handcrafted homewares and artisan foods to skincare, art and textiles.
For Ms Toomey, the heart of the event has always been about celebrating people who make what they sell and strengthening connections between producers and the community.
“Our core purpose is really to remove the barriers of finding what’s made by a person and what’s made in our region specifically,” she said.
“I see it as a real win for all those people who make things that they sell, and also for small businesses more broadly, our pubs, cafés and retailers, because they are all part of the community’s economic fabric.”
That sense of connection is something visitors have come to value, particularly when it comes to food and personal products.
“People really appreciate that they’re standing across from the person who grew the lavender, farmed the herbs, or made the skincare, and they can ask questions,” Ms Toomey said.
“If someone is willing to stand there and say, ‘Yes, I made this’, there’s a trust that’s built that just doesn’t exist when you’re buying something off a shelf with a lot of numbers on the back of a packet.”
Alongside the stalls, the expo will feature live local music, food vendors and family-friendly activities across both days.
One highlight is the free kids’ art tent, which has long been a favourite with families. This year the experience will be expanded with support from the New England Girls’ School, whose staff will help run creative workshops for children.
“They’ve offered to sponsor the art tent and bring their teaching staff to run some beautiful art activities,” Ms Toomey said. “They’ll be making things like hobby horses and handmade paper alongside our usual art supplies, which is really special.”
The event also continues its commitment to sustainability, with a zero-waste approach and free water refill stations available for visitors.
Beyond the daytime expo, organisers have introduced a special Expo Eve Dining Experience to kick off the weekend’s celebrations.
The unique event will take place on the Friday evening before the expo and feature a live-fire feast prepared by internationally experienced French chef Charly Pretet from Terra Firma Dining, known for his dramatic open-flame cooking style.
Set at the stunning Rock Abbey Gardens, the evening will combine local produce, live music and outdoor dining under the stars.
“We’ve always done something to start the weekend, but this year we’ve really gone all out,” Ms Toomey said.
“He’s an incredible international chef and his whole concept is cooking over fire. What we loved was the way he showcases regional producers wherever he goes, and he really loved the idea of coming here.”
The event is already attracting strong interest from visitors travelling to the region.
“A lot of our regular visitors from places like Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane have said they’d love a really ‘bush’ dining experience out of town,” Ms Toomey said. “This is part of our response to that request, and they’ve been some of the early people booking tickets.”
While the dining event is a new addition, the expo’s core focus remains firmly on supporting local producers and helping people discover the value of handmade and locally crafted products.
“People are looking for things that are made well and made to last,” Ms Toomey said.
“They’re looking for quality – something like a chopping board or a wooden spoon that isn’t going to need replacing in five minutes. They’re waiting for the expo because they know they can find those things here.”
With preparations now entering the final stages, Ms Toomey said the team is looking forward to welcoming the community back for another vibrant celebration of the New England region.
“I think it’s coming together beautifully,” she said.
“And we’re incredibly grateful for the support. Events like this really are about celebrating community, food and the people who create the things we love.”
For more information about the event, or to secure one of the few remaining tickets for the Expo Eve Dinner, visit the Season of New England website.
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