Apple and Grape Festival, Stanthorpe

There’s two years of goodness to share at the 10-day biennial Apple and Grape Festival held every second year to celebrate the produce harvest across the Granite Belt. This region is also where most of Queensland’s apples are grown! Festival action is centred on Werona Park in the heart of Stanthorpe, with a parade down the main street. Expect foot stomping fun with public grape crushing after the parade as participants try to squeeze the grapes between their toes. There’s a Food and Wine Fiesta, an Italian Long Lunch, an Apple Pie and Peeling Competition, and markets. Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt is Queensland’s premier wine-growing region with more than 50 wineries and nearly 40 cellar doors. Along with local breweries, many will be at the Food and Wine Fiesta stalls where you can sample and buy wines and brews by the glass and bottle. Top gardens in the region also are open to showcase cool climate gardening. Stanthorpe is less than three hours drive from Brisbane and two hours from Toowoomba.