Loved for its foot-stomping, grape-crushing antics, the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival has been crushing since 1966.
Stanthorpe will do it all again from 28 February to 8 March 2020. Grab your picnic rug and friends for the Heritage Bank Food, Wine & Cultural Fiesta, where from 6 to 8 March the shady trees of Weeroona Park will be a chilled-out hub of festival music, foodie delights, wine and craft beer. On the same big weekend, Saturday features the Channel 7 Grand Parade and the Stanthorpe Border Post Queensland Celebrity Grape Crushing Championships, as well as artisan markets. The first weekend of the 10-day festival includes March 1 when the Granite Belt’s fun-loving Italian heritage comes to the fore at ‘Banchetto Italiano’ — the Italian Long Lunch. The first festival Saturday is also the time to stroll the CBD for non-stop entertainment as the town hosts the National Busking Championships South East Queensland Final.
For talented apple pie bakers and champion apple peelers, ‘Apple Day’ on Thursday is when all things apples are celebrated. Queensland’s apple crop is grown around Stanthorpe, so it is little wonder it is the home town of Kerry Stratford, the seven-time reigning champion of the festival’s longest apple peel’ competition. Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival is one of Queensland’s most loved events every two years. Program and ticket information visit: www.appleandgrape.org
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