Looking to start your 2022 with a ‘grape’ time?
Put an ‘out of office’ in your calendar from 25 February to 6 March to come see why Stanthorpe’s Apple and Grape Festival is one of Queensland’s longest-running festivals.
With tens days of festival celebrations, we’ve hand picked our favourite festival activities right off the branch just for you.
Check out these iconic five must-do’s and see why the Granite Belt’s harvest celebrations have been ‘crushing it’ since 1966.
The Grand Parade
When: 2PM Saturday, 5 March 2022
Cost: FREE
Make your way to the sidewalks of Stanthorpe’s High and Maryland Streets to see an explosion of colour take over the town in the festival’s Grand Parade.
The vibrant celebrations of the community and Granite Belt Harvest feature quirky floats, classic cars and marching bands.
Make sure the kids keep an out of for Isabella Grape and Johnny Apple, the festival’s mascots too.
Be warned… you’ll be guaranteed a sore arm from plenty of waving and cheering for the passing floats.
Visit an Apple Orchard
When: 26 & 27 February, 5 March
Our region is renowned for not only producing 100% of Queensland’s apple crop but also Australia’s freshest, crispiest, and tastiest apples.
From Jonathan, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Sundowner, Kalei and Jazz to the famous Granny Smith, we grow them all and harvest time (during the festival) is the best time to eat them.
Book your spot for an Apple Orchard tour to not only see where the apples are picked but for your chance to walk amongst the apple trees, meet a orchardist and taste an apple right off the branch.
Read on here on how to visit an orchard during the festival.
Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta
When: 4 – 6 March 2022
Cost: Adults from $10, Under 18’s FREE.
Pack your picnic blanket and wear some loose-fitting clothing, ready to savour the flavour of regional Queensland featured at the Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta.
It’s all the tastes of the Granite Belt in one spot where you can wash down local gourmet delights with the help of award-winning wineries and breweries all weekend long.
Sit back under the shady trees of Weeroona Park and enjoy the live entertainment and the celebrations of the region’s diverse culture.
If you’re hungry for more, your fiesta wristband will guarantee you can head back in for seconds and pick up some of the local goods to take home too.
Bringing the kids? They’ll love the Kids Zone adjoining the precinct with kids amusements and family entertainment.
Grape Crush
When: 4 & 5 March 2022
Watch: FREE for spectators
Participate: Be a grape stomper for $25 (SOLD OUT)
Roll up your pants and tuck up your skirts to jump in for the iconic highlight of the festival. We’ll cue the Italian music for you to dance, jump and stomp around a barrel for some messy fun in the Public Grape Crush on Friday 4th March. Watch the action for free or register to be a grape stomper yourself for $25.
The iconic Celebrity Grape Crush takes places just after the Grand Parade on Saturday 5th March, where you can watch the contenders battle it out to see who has the fastest feet to take out the title of Queensland Grape Crushing 2022 Champion. There are no rules here… just who can squeeze grapes underfoot the quickest.
Stand too close to the action though and could experience more of the juicy fun than what you bargained for.
Busking Championships
When: 26 February 2022
Cost: FREE
Stanthorpe is the host of the South-East Queensland Finals of the 2022 Australian National Busking Championship.
Beginners to pros will take over (almost) every corner of Stanthorpe’s CBD for over five hours of music making. Grab ‘Busking Tokens’ for a $1 each to vote for your favourite ‘busking station’ to take out the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
By afternoon, make way to the Civic Centre (gold coin donation) to see the selected finalists perform one last time before the winners are announced.
What is else on during the first weekend of celebrations?
Wander your way around open gardens, say ‘Buon appetito!’ at the Banchetto Italiano Long Lunch (SORRY THIS LUNCH IS NOW SOLD OUT) or mingle with the locals at the Granite Belt Farmers Markets.
Keep planning your time at the festival with the full program here.
Major Sponsors
