It’s the last proper break before Christmas, so you’ll want to make the most of the upcoming October long weekend.
Wherever you are, or wherever you want to be, it’s in New South Wales.
Destination NSW ceo, Sandra Chipchase said the events on offer are a great way to celebrate and experience local communities around the state.
“Visitors can celebrate the mateship and culture of regional Australia at the iconic Deni Ute Muster, taste the best of NSW produce at Taste Riverina and Murrumbateman Moving Feast, or be inspired by the innovative mix of music, art and technology at Blender in Wollongong,” she said.
There’s a whole heap of food and wine, music and arts, and family-friendly long weekend festivals to choose from.
To help you pick one, Destination NSW has compiled this list of the top events taking place around the state this October long weekend
1. Taste Riverina, 1-31 October
October Long Weekend marks the start of the Riverina’s month-long celebration of its produce and diverse food and wine experiences. Not to be missed over the October Long Weekend is the Barellan Beer 2014 Harvest Release, the Wollundry Cycle Challenge and Craft Beer and Cider Festival, and Wagga Twilight Food Festival.
2. Blender, 1-4 October
A must for creative minds, this inaugural festival celebrates the convergence of music, arts and technology. Not your usual festival, Blender brings creative minds and performers together to collaborate and share. Top picks for the weekend include the Yours and Owls Music Festival, Wonderwalls Street Arts Festival and Mind Shift, which will see industry experts in technology, music and the arts share and discuss their ideas in series of panel sessions.
3. Deni Ute Muster, 2-3 October
Thousands will flock to Deni in their utes to celebrate rural Australia and be entertained by solid line-up of rock’n’roll and country music acts, a rodeo, and, of course, ute displays. Promising to be bigger and better than ever, this year Deni Ute Muster features headline act Cold Chisel. This is one festival every Aussie needs to experience.
4. StarFest and Siding Springs Observatory Open Day, 2-4 October
Open only one day annually is the impressive Siding Springs telescope in the Warrumbungles National Park at Coonabarabran. Visitors get the chance to take a closer look at Australia’s largest optical telescope, hear talks by famous astronomers and take part in solar observing. Star Fest also includes Science in the Pub, a panel discussion on the mystery of the universe.
5. Pooncarie Cup Race Meeting, 3 October
The small village of Pooncarie, on the Darling River in Outback NSW will explode as hundreds of race-goers descend upon the town for this once a year event. Join in and pitch a tent in the campground nearby, dress in race attire and meet locals from near and far at what promises to be a true outback horse race experience.
6. Murrumbateman Moving Feast, 3-4 October
Celebrating the wines and produce grown in the Canberra Wine District, this feast is a roving degustation of locals wines matched with delicious tasting plates. Each winery in the Murrumbateman will offer a tasting plate signature dish paired with one of their wines in a souvenir engraved glass.
7. Old Bar Beach Festival, 3-4 October
More than 17,000 Kombi owners and lovers will make the annual pilgrimage to Old Bar on the Mid North Coast to celebrate this iconic vehicle with music, food and car displays. Highlights include performances by local indie bands, Beetle and Kombi displays and parades, mega markets and a fireworks spectacular.
