Tamworth is known as Australia’s country music capital, but the region is also teeming with fresh produce and the Taste Tamworth Festival is ready to celebrate both.
The theme for this year’s Festival is ‘Experience Country Goodness’, showcasing Tamworth as the Capital of Country and inviting visitors to experience the region’s hospitality and local produce.
Running from April 10 – 19, the ten-day program will feature more than 25 events across Tamworth and surrounding towns, highlighting the region’s food producers, restaurants, entertainment venues and cultural experiences.
Tamworth Regional Council events officer Melanie Jenkins said the festival gave local businesses and producers the chance to showcase what they did while encouraging locals and visitors to explore the region.
“Local businesses can get involved, with various places doing different activities with about 25 confirmed at the moment,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity for businesses to promote what they do and take advantage of the school holidays.”
Among the new events this year is Picnic in ANZAC Park on Saturday, April 11 from 11am with the event inviting festival goers and locals to purchase picnic hampers from local businesses and relax with live music by local artist Fraser Simpson.
“We’re encouraging locals to get on board and order some hampers from local businesses, Food Connections and the Healthy Lunch Box,” Melanie said.
“You can order your picnic beforehand and come down and we’ll have live music and some lawn games and it’ll be a lovely day.”
The festival will also feature Taste in the Park Under the Stars, a new evening event in Bicentennial Park on Saturday, April 18.
“We’ve got live music, breweries, distilleries and wineries,” Melanie said.
“So, it’s just a nice evening to get out and have a dance in the park.”
Tamworth Regional Council Manager Festival & Events, Joel Ulbricht said Council was excited to establish new events as part of Taste this year.
“We’re thrilled to be incorporating new events into the Taste Tamworth calendar, including expanding Taste in the Park to the evening before and launching Picnic in ANZAC Park,” he said.
“Both events are low-cost and truly accessible to everyone in our community and we can’t wait to see people of all ages come together to enjoy them.”
Sweet Street and the Taste in the Park finale return this year.
“We finish with our usual Taste in the Park, which is in Bicentennial Park from 10 to 4, where we’ll have up to 60 stalls, kids’ activities and live music,” Melanie said.
She said the festival was also a chance to highlight the variety of food produced across the region.
“The local produce is quite varied in this region,” Melanie said.
“We’ve got pecans and honey and it’s just a good opportunity for restaurants and cafes to support the local producers.
“We’ve got great meat products around here as well, so it’s a good chance to showcase the relationship that restaurants and cafes have with farmers.”
Tamworth Regional Council Manager of Entertainment Venues Roz Pappalardo said Taste Tamworth is a natural fit for a region that blends food, arts and culture.
“This region is known worldwide for music,” she said.
“But just like any region there are other things to see and other things to be proud of.
“Excellence in food and wine and those sorts of things, it’s all there. And you combine that with the art; it’s just the best ten days.”
The festival opens with a laneway event beside Tamworth Town Hall on the opening night.
“I think it’s a really great opportunity to combine the food and the cultural elements that are associated with food,” Roz said.
“And really there’s nothing better when you can share art and food and bring it all together underneath one banner.”
Nundle and Manilla will also host events across the 10 days.
“It’s just another opportunity to get out and explore the region,” Melanie said.
“If you’ve got friends and family visiting for the school holidays, it’s a great opportunity to do an activity with them.”
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