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.
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
Jackie Price
Yield Lot 7
Zoe Lamont
Farm Door Riverina
Louise Freckelton
Highfield Farm and Woodland
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
Workshops
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
Murrumbidgee Landcare Workshop Tent
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 veggie 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
Tai Chi
Zana’s Spider
Vendors
Freedom Glen Natural Foods
Funding and Sponsors
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!