What’s On? Sample Food Festival 2 September

Calling all foodies: The Sample Food Festival is back! Mark your calendar for the weekend of 2 September and head to Byron Bay for the 11th annual Sample Food Festival, a Taste of Northern New South Wales. 

The festival, which takes place at the Bangalow Showgrounds on the first Saturday of September, showcases the best food and drink producers from the northern New South Wales area all in one place.

The Sample Food Festival, started in 2011, gets more than 15,000 visitors just in that one day, and gives access to approximately 150 exhibitors.

2023 Sample Food Festival attractions

Festival goers can enjoy plates from the region’s best restaurants, sample beverages from the area’s award-winning distilleries and breweries, and visit market stalls of local vendors.

You can also sharpen your own culinary skills and unlock your cooking creativity with masterclasses and workshops, or check out live cook-offs from acclaimed chefs.

Ben Pollard, Group Head Chef for Trader House will be a special Sample Food Festival Guest Chef this year. 

Source: Sample Food Festival

The 2023 restaurant line-up includes:

• A Chef’s Pocket
• Bruno’s Bellingen
• The Smoking Camel
• Harvest Newrybar
• No Bones
• Federal Doma Café
• Kelp Restaurant
• Hey Lady Diner
• Livemore Deli
• Natural Ice-Cream Australia
• Quattro
• North Byron Hotel
• Mr Maurice
• Yulli’s Byron Bay
• Bombay to Byron
• Dinner is Served
• Nimbin Valley Dairy
• Taco Love Bros
• Yummify
• Authentic South Indian Food
• Berlin Bangers
• Matcha Man
• Shoza Gyoza
• OMG! Donuts Byron Bay and
• Thai Marquee

From gourmet sandwiches and seafood to Japanese-inspired cuisine, Mexican delights, and vegan dishes, there is something to please every palate.  

This year’s festival will include a new kids’ space, the Ultimate Kids Creative Pass for children ages 3-12. The Ultimate Kids Creative Pass will offer interactive activities, sensory play, and take-home arts and crafts. 

Additional workshops include a sustainable fashion workshop where you can make your own upcycled earrings, and a wall art weaving workshop. Tickets to these workshops are sold separately from the general admission passes.

You can also join Arakwal woman Delta Kay for a special Sample Food Festival bush tucker tour along the stunning Byron Creek located at Bangalow Parklands. Enjoy tasting a range of traditional foods, as well as a selection of local native food products.

These items, as well as many more will also be available for purchase on the day. The ticket price for the bush tucker tour includes your entry into the Sample Food Festival.

What to know

The 11th annual Sample Food Festival will take place at the Bangalow Showgrounds in Byron Bay

Entry to the Sample Food Festival 2023 is $5.65 per adult and free for kids under the age of 16.

While children get free entry to the festival, the cost for participation in the Ultimate Kids Creative Pass is $11.25. There will also be $5, $10, and $15 tasting plate options for participating restaurants this year.

• Get your tickets today. 

• On-site parking is free. 

Festival-goers can also choose to purchase a picnic rug package, which includes entry for up to six people, a picnic rug for hire, and a guaranteed picnic spot within the festival grounds.

The cost for this package is $82.65; there are two time slots available, 8am-12pm, or 12:30pm to 4pm. 

Source: Sample Food Festival

Stay the weekend

Once you get a taste of Northern NSW, you’re sure to want more. Byron Bay has so much to offer, it’s hard to experience it all in just one day! Make a weekend (or a long one!) of it so you can take in more of Byron Bay – including the food, culture, beaches, and stunning natural scenery.

Broken Head Holiday Park is located just a few kilometres from the Bangalow Showgrounds and is the perfect place for a budget-friendly holiday stay.

Broken Head offers various types of accommodation for all types of food lovers who will be eating their hearts out at the festival. From camping and caravanning sites, to deluxe beach cabins, there is sure to be something that meets your overnight requirements.

Jump online today to reserve your spot.