A short 45-minute drive from Canberra, Yass Valley is the place to be for a spring time escape with a big dose of fresh air, and a hearty dash of country charm thrown in for good measure. Now is a beautiful time to tour the region’s cool climate wineries as the vines begin to bud with fresh green leaves announcing the new season. Choose your favourite wine variety, or sample them all, with over 20 cellar doors to visit. And taste your way around the region’s fresh food with everything from quaint eat-in options to top quality food producers, cosy cafés, country pubs and fine dining.
EVENTS IN YASS VALLEY Murrumbateman Moving Feast
CALLING ALL MARKET LOVERS!
Did you know that throughout spring there’s a market on in Yass Valley every weekend!*
*Across Murrumbateman, Gundaroo and Yass. Excludes October long weekend (29 September – 1 October)
Spring into Yass valley Spring in Yass Valley. Such a gorgeous time of year. The region awakens from its winter slumber as the warmer weather begins to disrupt the frosts, and our country characters get busy hosting some fabulous spring events. Spring is without doubt Yass Valley’s busiest time of year for events. Whether it’s food and wine, the arts, celebrating our history, or the great outdoors, there’s a spring event just perfect for any visitor to Yass Valley. We’re hosting delightful country fairs, food and wine festivals, sculpture exhibitions, music and markets – there’s never a dull moment when it
If you’re looking to make a stay of it, you can’t beat our country hospitality. Yass Valley
fabulous spring events… motel rooms. You’ll be greeted by welcoming smiles and a warm, comfy bed. And we know you’ll want to linger just a little longer…
More information yassvalley.com.au/spring Irish & Celtic Music Festival
More information yassvalley.com.au/spring For accommodation bookings phone 1300 886 014 • Binalong • Bowning • Gundaroo • Sutton • Wee Jasper
• Bookham • Burrinjuck • Murrumbateman • Wallaroo • Yass
Classic Yass Image credit: Glenda Snape
Gundaroo Music Festival
Come for an event, stay for a while. For accommodation bookings phone 1300 886 014
Yass Valley spring events 2018 DATE
EVENT
EVENT TYPE
14 - 16 September
Irish & Celtic Music Festival
Heritage and Arts
15 September - 14 October
Tulip Top Gardens
Nature and Outdoors
Explore an array of blooms as they herald spring’s arrival. Stroll through 10 acres of tulips and other flowers that provide a magical pathway to the cascading waterfall and hidden valley. Tulip Farm, Sutton.
22 September
Australian Cool Climate Wine Show
Food and Wine
Get ready to taste the wine! This national wine show is dedicated to benchmarking Australia’s cool climate wine styles. Take part in a public tasting, find your favourites and indulge at the Long Table Wine Luncheon. Various venues.
22 September - 7 October
Sculpture in the Paddock
Heritage and Arts
29 - 30 September
Murrumbateman Moving Feast
Food and Wine
13 October
Heritage and Arts
20 - 21 October
Murrumbateman Field Days
Nature and Outdoors
2 - 5 November
Dragon Dreaming Festival
Heritage and Arts
3 November
Classic Yass
Heritage and Arts
10 November
Yass Rodeo
Nature and Outdoors
18 November
Bowning Country Fair
Heritage and Arts
DESCRIPTION Join the Craic in Yass! Three days of traditional Irish and Celtic music plus Australian folk music, master classes, Celtic markets, poets’ soiree and workshops showcase Yass Valley’s proud Irish history. Plenty of family entertainment. Various venues.
Scope out some sculptures at this year’s new venue – the rolling 50-acre paddock on Shaw Vineyard Estate. Attracting local and regional artists, the sculptures will be on display for viewing, with the public invited to nominate the people’s choice. Shaw Vineyard Estate, Murrumbateman. Tantalise your taste buds over the October Long Weekend with this roving degustation of fine local wines and delicious tasting plates. Choose from a main meal or dessert matched perfectly with wines, and meet the makers. Various venues. Ignite your inner music lover with 12 hours of non-stop entertainment, including food and wine tasting, produce and arts stalls, a kids’ zone and a fireworks display. The festival aims to raise awareness of and funding for Motor Neurone Disease. Cork Street, Gundaroo. Drink in the country at the region’s premier small farm field day, this year celebrating its 40th birthday. Enjoy children’s entertainment, farm animals, food and wine, antique and modern farm machinery, shearing, woodchopping, live music and more. Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds, Murrumbateman. Celebrate art, music nature and the freedom of self-expression at this feast of goodness featuring some of Get back to the ‘good old days’ in the centre of the historic town of Yass. See cars from the early 1900s through to the 70s, vintage memorabilia, enjoy music from the 50s, 60s and 70s, watch the Rotary Billy Cart Derby, Yass Railway Open Day and more. Meehan Street, Yass. Grab a bit of rodeo action by the horns as the Yass Rodeo rounds up for another year of competition and entertainment. Don’t miss this full ABCRA Rodeo including bulls, broncs and timed events. Leo Buckmaster Rodeo Arena, Yass Showground, Yass. Delight in the country charm of this Country Fair. It’s a day of entertainment with market stalls, live entertainment, bushranger re-enactments, antique farm machinery, baby animal farmyard, wool spinning, archery and more. And it’s all to raise money for Yass Valley CanAssist! Rollonin Café, Bowning Road, Bowning.
yassvalley.com.au/spring