Tenterfield is gearing up for one of its busiest weekends of the year, with a brand new Spring Food and Wine Festival joining forces with the Peter Allen Festival over the October long weekend.
The Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism, Industry and Business is running its first-ever Spring Food and Wine Festival on Saturday, 3 October and Sunday, 4 October 2026, timed to coincide with the Peter Allen Festival, which runs from Friday, 2 October to Sunday, 4 October.
Chamber president Kathryn Davis said the idea was to give visitors more reasons to stay in town for the whole weekend rather than just one event.
“It’s not just the one event, there’s a few things happening,” Ms Davis said.
The festival was born out of a chance to combine two big drawcards. Award-winning entertainer Todd McKenney will perform his tribute show Peter & Me at the Tenterfield School of Arts on the Saturday night, a performance that has already sold out. On Sunday, McKenney will sing “Tenterfield Saddler” outside the historic Saddler shop, the site that inspired Peter Allen’s famous song.
Ms Davis said the festival was also a chance to shine a light on the region’s farmers and producers.
“We wanted to make sure that they had a spotlight on them,” she said.
Saturday’s signature event is Wild Dining, a six-course long lunch among the spring blooms of Glenrock Gardens. The lunch is hosted by chefs Krystel and Craig Ogle of The Barn at Glenrock Gardens, with each course paired with wines from Knucklehead Wines and guided commentary from the winemaker throughout. Bus transport will be provided from town, and Ms Davis said the day was built entirely around local produce.
“It’s all local produce, it’s local wines,” she said.
A market will also run at the Railway Museum on the Saturday, alongside extended trading hours across town.
Shopfronts are set to get in on the celebrations too, with the Chamber running a window display competition for the long weekend. Business owners are being encouraged to dress their shopfronts in a festival theme, with a $200 Experience Tenterfield gift card, sponsored by the Chamber, on offer for the best window.
“Businesses can dress up their windows with diamantes and glitter and shoes and lights and all that sort of thing,” Ms Davis said.
Tenterfield Shire Council is also waiving sidewalk permit fees for the weekend, though shop owners who have not already applied for footpath use will need to submit an online application along with a public liability certificate before the event.
Ms Davis said the visual spectacle across the main street was as much a part of the drawcard as the festival program itself.
“Locals and visitors alike, they love it when it’s all dressed up, all the windows and all of that,” she said.
On Sunday, the Spring Food & Wine Experience Expo takes over Memorial Hall from 10 am to 4 pm, with around 35 regional exhibitors expected. The program includes wine tastings and talks with local producers, beer and gin experiences, gourmet barbecue and smoked specialties, a brisket masterclass, artisan cheese and wine pairing sessions, truffle talks and cooking demonstrations, paddock-to-plate discussions, dessert tastings and long-table experiences.
Entry is ticketed, with every visitor receiving a goodie bag including a souvenir wine glass. For an extra fee, visitors can also book in for masterclasses and tastings with individual producers, including a truffle pasta session and a paddle of local beers.
Ms Davis said the messaging behind the combined weekend was simple.
“We’re celebrating food, wine, song and dance,” she said.
Performers from Brisbane will join local talent across the weekend, alongside the Todd McKenney shows.
The Chamber is calling on regional farmers, growers, winemakers, brewers, distillers and artisan food producers to sign up as exhibitors for the expo.
“We’re still looking for a few more exhibitors for the expo,” Ms Davis said.
Ms Davis said any local business could apply, though exhibitors selling liquor need a liquor licence, and those selling food need food handling certification and public liability insurance. Producers interested in taking part can apply at tenterfieldfoodandwine.com under Become an Exhibitor, or contact president@tenterfieldchamber.com.au for more information.
Tickets for the Wild Dining long lunch and the Spring Food & Wine Experience are available now through tenterfieldfoodandwine.com.
Asked whether the food and wine festival and the Peter Allen Festival would work well running side by side, Ms Davis said she was confident the whole town would feel like part of the celebration.
“That is the hope, absolutely,” Ms Davis said.
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