What’s On? Sample Food Festival 5 September

If you happen to be a foodie, like cooking, or just want an excuse for a fun holiday, then head to Byron Bay for the weekend of 5 September. The Sample Food Festival, a one-day food extravaganza, features the best food and drink producers from the northern New South Wales area. This Bangalow food festival annually brings more than 15,000 visitors for the day to the Bangalow Showgrounds where approximately 200 exhibitors will showcase delicious food and drink.

Entry to the Sample Food Festival 2015 is $5 per adult and free for kids. The festival, started in 2010, is supported and was founded by Sample magazine, a quarterly publication that features northern New South Wales restaurants, food producers and more.

Festival Program

Source: SampleNSW Facebook”

The Sample Food Festival begins at 8 am with the first featured event on the Northern Rivers Cooking Stage being the Byron Farmers Market breakfast. This features guest celebrities Dan Mulhern and Luke Hines as well as Eddie Brooks MCing the session and adding in a few of his own local secret ingredients.

This session only lasts from 8:15am to 8:45 am, so make sure to arrive early to the festival to catch it!

As you wander around the stalls of this Byron Bay festival, make sure to note that 25 of the region’s top restaurants are among the exhibitors, all of whom plus other vendors will be offering up $5 or $10 tasting plates for a total of 60 tastings plate available. The plates will be judged and the very best are awarded the Sample Golden Fork Awards for 2015.

Plus there will be cooking and food demonstrations on the Northern Rivers Cooking Stage throughout the day. Check out the Sample Food Festival program for more information. From creating the perfect cheese platter, to “The Magic of Mushroom,” there will be something fun to watch and learn from all of the wonderful chefs on the cooking stage.

There are lots for kids to do during the Sample Food Festival 2015, so parents can feel comfortable bringing along the whole family. There will be animal shows, balloon magic, Circus Arts and other fun things to do.

Adriano Zumbo. Source: SampleNSW Facebook

In addition to kids’ entertainment, there will be a main stage with a cooking challenge, live music, book signing by Adriano Zumbo and more. In addition, wine and beer lovers can stop by the beer garden and wine marquee to indulge in some of the area’s finest selections.

If you can make to the area  early, there is a special ticketed lunch on Friday, 4 September with special guest chefs Adriano Zumbo and James Viles as well as a variety of local chefs. The lunch’s theme is The Producer and The Chef and begins mid-day and ends by 3 pm, featuring several courses and wine and beer. The cost is $120 per person. Email info@samplensw.com to check on ticket availability.

The Bangalow food festival ends at 4 pm but after all that food indulging, you might not want to head home right away. What about taking a nice long walk on the beach? Or heading to Byron Bay town centre and touring around there? Maybe you’ll walk off some of the calories you consumed!

Come for the Festival, Stay the Weekend

While the festival is a great reason to come, why don’t you make a weekend (or a long one!) of it and stay over so you can take in more of Byron Bay while you’re here? The Broken Head Holiday Park is situated just a few kilometres from the Bangalow Showgrounds and would be the perfect place for a budget-friendly holiday stay. Broken Head offers a range of Byron Bay accommodation for all types of food lovers who will be eating their hearts out at the festival. From camping and caravanning sites, to beach shacks and cabins, there is sure to be something that meets your overnight requirements.