The Riverina is buzzing with excitement as we gear up for the first ever Riverina Harvest Festival—and it’s almost here!
Get in quick to secure your tickets for the Conference & Dinner on 1st March and invite your whole family to the FREE Festival & Market Day on 2nd March at Riverside. This is an event you don’t want to miss, so put it on your calendar and join us for one or both days, of what’s set to be a vibrant celebration of local produce, sustainable living, learning, and community connections.
If you’re passionate about gardening, local food, or just keen to learn more about how we can strengthen our local food systems, this is the event for you. On Saturday, March 1st, we kick things off with Day 1 – Conference & Dinner, in the Wagga Wagga City Council Conference room. From 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM, you’ll hear from a jam packed list of inspiring speakers, including Clarence Slockee from ABC’s Gardening Australia and Naomi Lacey from Community Gardens Australia.
The day will explore powerful topics like food security, community gardens, and how we can support each other through local food networks—especially when times are tough. With speakers like Joshua Collings from Acres and Acres Co-op and Colette Geier from CSU, you’ll be inspired by their expertise in sustainable practices and the role local gardens play in building stronger communities. Other guest presenters include:; Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Wiradjuri Custodian, Eltan Mestan from Erin Earth sustainability demonstration garden, members of the Batlow Tumbarumba Horticultural Group, Dr John Raffety from Charles Sturt University, Marty and Sally Bushby from Whole Picture Permaculture, and Jackie Price, a Cultural Educator from Australian Native Food Farming.
But it’s not all about sitting and listening – you’ll have the chance to network with fellow attendees during the day and enjoy a delicious dinner curated by Mates Gully, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people, exchange ideas, and make lasting connections. Conference tickets are just $100, which includes the conference, catered afternoon tea, and the exclusive networking dinner.
Tickets are limited, so don’t wait too long to grab yours. Head over to the festival website www.mli.org.au/current-projects/the-riverina-harvest-festival-2025/ or book directly through Humanitix to secure your spot.
On Sunday, March 2nd, we’re opening up the festivities with the Free Festival Market Day at Wagga Wagga Beach. From 10 AM to 4 PM, the whole family can enjoy the local food stalls, live music, hands-on workshops, with plenty of opportunities to discover new growers and community groups in the region. It’s free to attend, so bring your friends, your family, and your appetite for good food and good company! Some of the highlights of the day include workshops like:
- Square foot gardening by The Demonstration Gardens
- Cheese Making by Jackie Price (Little Bush Kitchen)
- Social Media Hacks for your Community Groups and Gardens, by Naomi Lacey (Community Gardens Australia)
- A discussion on edible natives, with Clarence Slockee (ABC‘s Gardening Australia), and
- Grow Your Own Mushroom Log Cultivation, by Ten Thousand Harvests
There will also be heaps of kids activities to inspire you and your kids.
There are thriving pockets of passionate people throughout the region doing amazing work in their communities, and we can’t wait to bring them all together to collaborate, showcase and hopefully go away with more contacts and bright new ideas for the future. The festival provides a great platform to showcase the collective efforts of these groups and strengthen the future of our local food in the Riverina and hopefully inspire more people to support our local growers and community groups.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your tickets for the Day 1 Conference & Dinner before they’re all gone and bring your whole family to Day 2 Free Festival Market Day and we’ll see you on the 1st and 2nd of March! Visit the Riverina Harvest Festival Website for more details on the full program. Let’s grow together—this is just the beginning! 🌱
We want to thank and acknowledge the huge support and collaboration we have received from all the local, volunteers, partners and sponsors. This event would not have been possible without the support from the Southern NSW Drought and Innovation Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, Wagga Wagga City Council, Transgrid, Erin Earth, Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, Pro Patria Centre, Demonstration Gardens Wagga Wagga, Wagga Nursery, Wagga Surveyors, The Chaston Street Nursery, Carbon Mate PTY LTD and The Streaming Guys.
