EAT LOCAL MONTH

A Unique Paddock-to-Plate Farming Festival

Tantalise your tastebuds at Scenic Rim Eat Local Month, Australia’s most authentic paddock-to-plate food and farming festival. Held every year throughout June, visitors enjoy an exclusive backstage pass to explore the farms, wineries, distilleries and authentic paddock-to-plate experiences this spectacular region has to offer. It’s not just a food festival; it’s an immersive journey into a new world of flavours. 

While Scenic Rim Eat Local Month is your culinary passport to taste and experience all the local flavours of the Scenic Rim region, you also get the opportunity to meet the people behind the produce and the flavours. This harvest celebration features farm-gate events, hands-on workshops and masterclasses, and culinary experiences for foodies of all ages. So get ready to embark on a gastronomic adventure, whether you’re looking for free and low-cost family fun or exclusive and intimate dining experiences. 

The month culminates in the Winter Harvest Festival, where Scenic Rim Food Ambassadors and local producers come together to share their passion for food and their expertise, with local musicians providing a soundtrack. Come and join in Eat Local Month to discover, savour and celebrate local produce at its finest, and meet some of the people who produce and prepare the wonderful food and beverages this region is famous for. 

The Festival Back Story

The Scenic Rim is located in Southeast Queensland, about an hour’s drive from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The region, blessed with a fertile alluvial soil, produces a bountiful supply of fruit, vegetables, wine, milk and gourmet products such as olives, cheeses, jam and relishes. The agriculture and tourism industries contribute a staggering $680 million to the regional economy and Eat Local Month is a celebration of the people whose hard work makes this possible as much as it is of the produce itself. The event is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, as part of a growing calendar of sporting and cultural regional events throughout the state.

The event began in 2011 as Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, initially featuring 25 events to an audience of 900, but has since grown in size and scale. Now, the month-long event takes place annually in June featuring over 120 events, allowing consumers to connect with farmers and accentuating the benefits of sourcing locally produced food that’s in season. Scenic Rim Eat Local Month encourages visitors to consider their food and wine choices in light of the vast array of quality products available right on their doorstep. The wide-ranging events, workshops and presentations also provide much-needed insight into how our fresh produce reaches our restaurants, kitchens and tables. 

There’s so Much to Choose from!

Eat Local Month spans the entire month of June each year and is held across several regional centres in the Scenic Rim region. The month is jam-packed with a host of events to choose from, both free and ticketed. Book an authentic farm tour, enrol in one of the many cooking classes, watch a top chef giving a masterclass, participate in a hands-on workshop, or meet producers face-to-face. Indulge in locally sourced, authentic dishes at long lunches, flavour-filled dinners and exclusive dining experiences hosted by top Queensland chefs. The program for Eat Local Month is released in April each year, and we highly recommend going over it in detail so you can plan your best possible adventure and make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

The Winter Harvest Festival is the signature event of Eat Local Month, held over the last weekend in June each year as a finale. It’s absolutely the best way to get a feel for the close-knit community of the region. You can explore a huge variety of market stalls offering the freshest possible local produce: make sure to bring your esky to take your delicious purchases home with you! While you’re at the festival, you can sample seasonal delights and savour local wines, beer and spirits. Whether or not you’re a food enthusiast, you’ll be captivated by live demonstrations and talks featuring Scenic Rim chefs and Food Ambassadors. Keen amateur cooks can purchase tickets for classes to enhance their skills as well as their festival experience. 

When it’s time to relax, grab a seat with a locally produced beverage in hand while listening to the music from some of Scenic Rim’s home-grown musicians or watch the world-famous Tractor Pull Competition. Children will enjoy activities and can even enter the Junior Tractor Pull. At the Winter Harvest Festival, there really is something for everyone!

Why Not Stay a While?

Staying for a weekend or longer in the Scenic Rim region is a great way to make the most of Eat Local Month. Each weekend events are conveniently clustered around regional centres and villages, and we recommend researching the events you’re interested in and booking accommodation close by to guarantee a perfect stay. 

There’s a full range of accommodation options in the region, from camping and glamping to five-star luxury retreats. You can choose to stay in a bed and breakfast with an open fire and a spectacular view, or in a cottage on a working farm and wake up to the sound of birds and farm animals, or curl up with that special someone at a romantic mountain lodge. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to start, here’s some extra information that might help. Note that all accommodation mentioned is independently operated and not affiliated with Scenic Rim Eat Local Month. We highly recommend doing your own research to ensure that your lodgings meet your needs and expectations. 

Canungra, Tamborine Mountain and Beechmont are where you’ll find breathtaking mountain views, misty mornings and the sweet sound of whipbirds. Staying in this spectacular high country is truly magical. Beechmont Estate offers a serene escape atop the Lamington National Park plateau. Or you could treat yourself to an unforgettable mountain experience at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and Binna Burra. If you’re staying on Tamborine Mountain, you could try the Picnic Real Food Bar for delicious food, wine, craft beer, coffee, or a takeaway picnic basket. For a casual take on fine dining, why not try The Paddock at Beechmont Estate?

Boonah, Kalbar, Harrisville, Mount Alford and Roadvale are home to a huge variety of accommodations, including farmhouses, upmarket lodges, glamping spots and even an old church! For a charming cottage stay, try Milford Country Cottages or The Old Church Bed & Breakfast in Boonah. There’s also 107 George on the main street in Kalbar which hosted the 2024 Winter Harvest Festival. Boonah’s Blume Restaurant reflects the ethos of Eat Local Month by focusing on seasonal local produce. Or you could try a beautiful fusion of French and British cuisine at the Roastbeef and the Frog in Wyaralong at The Overflow Estate 1895.

Accessibility

We are dedicated to creating a safe, accessible and enjoyable environment for everyone, regardless of age, ability or background. We understand the importance of accessibility and are keen to ensure all attendees can participate and enjoy the events on offer. Because Eat Local Month takes place across the Scenic Rim region with events in multiple venues, we can only provide an overview of accessibility here. If you have specific accessibility requirements, you should check with the venues you plan to visit prior to the events.

We list general accessibility information on each venue within their event listing on the website, which includes whether or not they are wheelchair accessible, have accessible parking and accessible bathrooms. However, wheelchair users should check with individual venues and event organisers to check for more specific information.

We warmly welcome guide dogs and service animals at all our events, including the Winter Harvest Festival. However, some farms do not allow service animals into certain areas, and this is generally noted in the listing. Again, it’s always best to check with the event organiser.

Tickets are purchased online through the Eat Local Month website. However we are happy to provide assistance with bookings by email and phone to ensure our event is accessible to everyone. If venues and events accept Companion Cards, this is noted on the event listing.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss individual accommodations and will do our best to meet your needs. If you have any specific accessibility needs, requests or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Scenic Rim Eat Local Month team on (07) 5540 5111 or email info@eatlocalmonth.com.au.