‘SHE’LL BE APPLES’ FOR AUSTRALIA’S LOVED APPLE & GRAPE FESTIVAL Drought and bushfire won’t hold the Queensland town of Stanthorpe down, with organisers of Australia’s loved Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival declaring ‘she’ll be apples’ for the 2020 festivities to be as big and joyous as ever when staged 28 February to 8 March.
“The Queensland Government supports events like the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Festival because they provide a platform to showcase our destinations and draw people to Queensland.”
The festival coincides with the harvest of apples and grapes across the Granite Belt, a region which boasts growing all of Queensland’s apple crop and is Australia’s highest altitude wine region, at a cool 1,000m.
‘Banchetto Italiano’, the Italian Long Lunch, is set to double in size for the 2020 festival, to allow hundreds more festival goers to indulge in traditional Italian celebrations on the first festival weekend, Sunday 1st March. Festival Vice President Greg Thouard describes, “we’ve got the Tarantella dancers coming along, music from Italy, fine Italian foods and we have just such a great time there celebrating our Italian friends who brought us so much of what we see today in our food and wine.”
“Our farmers are working against the odds this season with dry conditions, so we reckon it makes even more sense to celebrate and be thankful for the harvest that they will achieve,” says Max Hunter, Festival President. “When visitors arrive and join the festivities, you can be sure they’ll find Stanthorpe as festive as ever and part of what builds that vibrancy is our community’s Italian heritage and culture shining through.” | Heartland Magazine Special Feature
Championships South East Qld Final, as well as the Golf: Apple and Grape Cup. The first weekend concludes with a cycle event ‘That Dam Ride’ and the Italian Long Lunch on Sunday 1st March.
“Events like this attract visitors which boosts the region – and we know that people who visit our regions are the best advocates for regional tourism destinations,” Ms Jones said.
Famously known for its foot-stomping, grapecrushing antics, the festival has been ‘crushing it’ since 1966 and will again put out the welcome mat for more than 70,000 attendees.
Grapes and apples will still be picked, and ample wine will flow, but there’s no doubt the drought that’s hitting Granite Belt farmers is taking a toll.
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Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the Queensland Government supports regional events because they boost regional jobs.
Involved in the festival for an incredible 45 years, Mr Thouard has seen this hallmark Queensland festival grow from strength to strength and is excited by the new developments happening on the 10-day program in 2020. Encompassing two weekends, the second weekend which is ‘the big one’ on 7-8 March will feature a longer 3-day Heritage Bank Food Wine & Cultural Fiesta, coinciding with the much anticipated Channel 7 Grand Parade and The Stanthorpe Border Post Qld Grape Crushing Championships! The first weekend kicks off Friday 28 February with the Ergon Energy Street Party and the Turning on the Festival Lights, as well as an Opening Gala Event where the Festival Ambassadors are presented. The streets of Stanthorpe will be buzzing the next day, when the town hosts the National Busking
A highlight of the mid-week festivities is Thursday’s Apple Day, where all things apples are happening, including an apple pie competition, chef apple cooking demonstrations, wines to match with apple dishes and toffee apples. The hotly contested Apple Peeling Competition is guaranteed to draw a crowd to witness whether reigning local champion Kerry Stratford will retain her 7-time title of best apple peeler in the Granite Belt and again create the longest continuous apple peel. The festival is held only once every 2 years and organisers are appealing for Australians to support Stanthorpe by making 2020 the year, they tick the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival off their bucket-list. Stanthorpe is reached within just 2.5hrs of Brisbane, 3hrs of the Gold Coast or Byron Bay and 2hrs from Toowoomba. For program and tickets information visit www.appleandgrape. org GET THE FACTS…
WHEN 28 February to 8 March 2020 (main weekend 6-8 March 2020) WHERE Various locations, Stanthorpe, Queensland PRICE $10 Adult 1 Day Heritage Bank Food & Wine Fiesta or $25 Adult 3-Day Pass WEBSITE www.appleandgrape.org
