Another Festive and Tasty Week in Byron Shire

It seems like we always have something to celebrate here in Byron Bay and the glorious weather this time of year makes the Far North Coast of New South Wales an enviable place to live. This week is no exception with several great festivals and events on the calendar.

The first will be this Sunday, the 1st of September, which is also Fathers’ Day and according to some, the first day of spring. So why not take Dad to the Living Earth Festival in Mullumbimby? The fun starts at 10am and lasts until 10pm so there will be plenty to see and do in between.
Mount Chincogan in Mullumbimby, NSW

One of the great Mullum traditions used to be the Chincogan Festival with a parade through town and a footrace up Mount Chincogan, the town’s landmark conical peak. The parade, if not the run, is being brought back this year with floats and marchers heading from the heart of town to the Mullum Community Gardens along Stuart Street. The focus of the festival will be on sustainable living with innovative workshops, demonstrations, food, arts and information stalls and celebrations for the whole family.

Living Earth Festival 1 September 2013 in Mullumbimby NSWOrganised by the Mullumbimby Community Gardens, the guests of honour will be the host of ABC’s Gardening Australia Costas Georgiadis and Gerry Coleby-Williams, author of Gardening Australia – Flora. Local roots reggae band Fyre Walk will provide music and there will be a full range of kids’ activities along with the favourite character Spiky Echidna in attendance.

It’s hard to resist their invitation to “Plant your feet in the cool earth, feel the sun kiss your skin and nourish your soul at this year’s Living Earth Festival. One love, one heart, one earth, regenerate, co-create.”

If you’ve recovered from your weekend of fun by Thursday then come to Byron’s weekly farmers’ market between 8 and 11 am for a sneak preview of Saturday’s Sample Food Festival. Renowned chefs Clayton Donovan (from Jaaning Tree Restaurant in Nambucca Heads and Australia’s only hatted Indigenous chef) and Gavin Hughes (head chef at Byron at Byron Resort) will be there cooking and handing out 500 free tasting plates of food they’ll prepare from fresh market produce. Sounds too good to miss.

That taste treat should warm your palate for the actual Sample Food Festival on Saturday, the 7th of September from 8am to 4pm at the Bangalow Showgrounds. The annual event showcases regional food, cooking and product launches from Northern New South Wales. The day starts with a Farmers’ Market breakfast and continues with $5 and $10 tasting plates throughout the day. There will be celebrity chefs, cooking demonstrations, cheese-making classes, music and entertainment for the kiddies.

So once again, there is more than enough to keep us entertained, edified and well fed this week here in Byron Shire.

by Ed Silk Byron Bay

mob: 0418 660 063Sample Food Festival 2013 at Bangalow Showgrounds
tel: 02 6680 8668