Harvest Riverina is a vibrant, community-led event that began in 2025 and attracted over 2,000 participants. It celebrates local food, sustainability, and community resilience through a two-day program including a Conference Day featuring expert speakers and panel discussions, and a free Festival Day with markets, music, workshops, and local food.

Day 1 - Conference Day

Date: Friday 20th March 2026

Time: 9 am to 5.30 pm

Location: Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross Street Wagga Wagga (online option also available)

Our conference day will feature presentations from an amazing lineup including:

Clarence Slockee

Matthew Evans

Paul West

Plus lots of local growers, producers and activists who will share their knowledge and lead discussions on shaping the future of food in the Riverina

Day 2 - Festival Day

Date: Saturday 21st March 2026

Time: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm

Location: Riverside precinct

Cost: FREE

Our Market Day will be full of colour, flavour, and community spirit! Explore a wide range of stalls featuring delicious food and produce from local farmers, growers, and artisan makers.

There will be fun and educational workshops for both adults and kids, giving everyone the chance to learn something new.

Don’t miss the Chef’s Tent, where talented local chefs will share cooking demonstrations and fresh recipe ideas.

With live music, family-friendly entertainment, and a welcoming atmosphere, our Harvest Festival promises to be a wonderful way to celebrate the season and enjoy a memorable day with friends and neighbours.

Elements (6)

Day 1 - Conference Details

Keynote Speakers

Paul West

Grow it Local

Clarence Slockee

Gardening Australia

Matthew Evans

Fat Pig Farm

Amy Carrad

ARCHE

Andrew Taylor

Bega Circular Valley

Interactive Forum

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Jackie Price

Yield Lot 7

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Zoe Lamont

Farm Door Riverina

Louise Freckelton

Highfield Farm and Woodland

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Paul Nolte

Mates Gully

Networking Dinner

Join us after the Harvest Riverina Conference for a relaxed networking dinner at the CSU Playhouse from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, featuring a delicious menu catered by Marbull Catering.

Tickets for the networking dinner must be purchased through Humanitix.

Day 2 - Festival Details

Chefs tent

Savour the flavours of the Riverina at the Chef’s Tent, where some of our region’s most talented chefs and cooks take the stage to share their passion, creativity, and local produce stories. From the first sizzling pan at 10:15am through to the final dish at 6:50pm, festival-goers can watch, taste, and chat with the people shaping our local food culture.

 

The Chefs Tent is proudly brought to you by Charles Sturt University.

Brian Cutting from Riverina Hotel

Penny Scott The Bush Goddess

Matthew Evans from Fat Pig Farm

Ben Derosa from Zecca Pasta

Paul West from Grow It Local

Andrew Lockey from Charles Sturt University

Richard Moffit from Pro Patria Centre

Erin Earth Kids Workshop Space

Growing future gardeners

 

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM

Marvellous Mud

With Natasha Stafford from Being Green Permaculture

7 – 12 Years

 

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

Soil Explorers

With Cathy Strong from Riverina Environmental Education Centre

5 – 12 Years

 

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

Nature Journaling

With Britt Hicks from Murrumbidgee Landcare

5 – 12 Years

 

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

Little Nature Explorers

With Dilhani Perera from Found Enviro Care

MLI Adult Workshop Space

 

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Grow your health from paddock to plate to medicine cupboard

With Felicity Kerslake, Australian Bush food education

 

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Riverina Plants and Gardens Facebook Group, meet and greet with Clarence Slockee, Gardening Australia

 

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Seed Bomb Rolling 

Joanne Diver, The backyard garden enthusiast

 

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Horticultural and Plant Biosecurity

With Justin Vardanega, Senior Local Land Services Officer

 

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Lasagna gardening, layering to build your productive vegie patch

With Karen Lenehan, Gumly Garden Plots

 

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM

The World of Composting 

With Jim Rees, Demonstration Gardens Wagga Wagga

 

 

 

Music and Entertainment

Clarence Slockee

KB3

Cielo

Tai Chi

Zana’s Spider

Vendors

Funding and Sponsors

Yeild Lot 7

Harvest Riverina is brought to you by many local volunteer groups who love gardening and working together to share a bunch of vegetables and a bounty of knowledge with you. 


This project is supported by Wagga Wagga City Council, Riverina Water, Erin Earth, Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, Pro Patria Centre, Farm Door Riverina, Bedrock, Old Man Creek, Demonstration Gardens Wagga Wagga, Yield Lot 7 and The Little Bush Kitchen, Iberdrola Australia, Wagga Surveyors, Carbon Mate PTY LTD, and the NSW Landcare Enabling Project, a collaboration of Local Land Services and Landcare NSW supported by the Australian Government.

Harvest Riverina is dedicated to fostering self-sufficiency, well-being, and a clean and green environment through community collaboration.

Our mission is to connect people and promote food security by celebrating locally grown produce, and supporting community gardens and local producers.

We aim to enhance education and networking opportunities, implement regenerative and permaculture practices, and support new initiatives. By showcasing the benefits of sustainable gardening, we will build a resilient community and strengthen connections among local growers, gardeners, residents, and organisations.

Whether you’re a passionate gardener, a local food advocate, or simply curious about how communities can grow stronger through gardening, this festival day is for you. Let’s cultivate connections, share knowledge, and build a sustainable future – together!