Cheers to a great day! Thank you for coming along on Saturday to support our hardworking stall holders who truly blew us away this year with the level of quality and creativity they showcased. The exceptional talent and produce our region is renowned for was well represented in the beautiful tasting plates and beverages we got to enjoy. Thank you for being there with us and celebrating these chefs, producers, brewers, distillers and artisans. We were blessed with a warm and sunny Spring day, perfect for enjoying a picnic at our new location at the Showgrounds. We loved seeing your positive ..read more

Come on down to the Bangalow Showgrounds this Saturday to taste the best of the Northern Rivers, spend some quality time with your loved ones and support our local food economy! We can’t wait to see you there! TICKETS PROGRAM MAP Since our debut festival in 2011, farmers, producers, artisans and a whole range of creative individuals from all corners of the region have come together to share their wares, their passion and their knowledge. Many of our stalls offer free ‘samples’ or testers of their products (we are called Sample after all!) Take some time to enjoy the offerings from o ..read more

We can’t wait to celebrate the first weekend of Spring with you at the beautiful Bangalow Showgrounds on Saturday 2nd September 2023. Today we are sharing the full festival program (download below) and announcing the musicians who will be providing the soundtrack for your day out full of good food, good drinks and good times! Also a friendly reminder that Father’s Day is the same weekend as Sample so why not treat dad to an early present with a Sample picnic feast and local brews! Tickets are still available for our Wandering Folk Picnic Rug Hire, Kids Creative Pass as well as our Sustainab ..read more

Not only will you be able to drop by Lord Byron Distillery’s stall at Sample Food Festival this year for a Pina Colada, Gin & Grapefruit Soda or Rum & Ginger Ale but you can also learn how to make some of their Cellar door favourites in their cocktail masterclass! Lord Byron Distillery will be showcasing a few different twists on classic cocktails using their award-winning handcrafted spirits. These cocktails are ones that you will recognise but with a fun and exciting Lord Byron Twist… Our series of Cocktail Masterclasses commence at 11:30am live on the Sample Food Festival cooking ..read more

In what is bound to be a festival highlight again this year you will be able to catch some of the Northern Rivers’ most celebrated chefs cook against one another on the Sample Food Festival cooking stage. In our series of live cook-offs each pair of chefs will be given identical boxes of the very best local and unique ingredients and challenged to create something special! Keep reading to find out the chefs who will be battling it out live on stage! BOOK FESTIVAL TICKETS Ally Waddell Born in Glasgow, Chef Alastair Waddell “Ally” is a three-time winner of The Australian Good Food Guide ..read more

Immerse yourself in the inspiring world of weaving, and craft your very own wall art or wearable art. Join Bundjalung cultural weaver Tania Marlowe in a 2.5 – 3 hour workshop where she and Deb Seib will introduce traditional weaving techniques to enable you to design and make your own personalised creation using natural and sustainable fibres. BOOK WORKSHOP  There will be two sessions held at Sample Food Festival on Saturday 2nd September 2023 commencing at 10am and 1:30pm. This workshop is recommended for 16 years + Please note, all workshops attendees must have an entry ticket to t ..read more

Ben Pollard, Group Head Chef for Trader House will be a special Sample Food Festival Guest Chef this year! Ben began his career in the Northern Rivers, working under Tippy Heng and alongside Ben and Belinda Kirkwood at Dish Restaurant in Byron Bay. Cutting his teeth as an apprentice at Rockpool Sydney in the early 2000s, Ben honed his skills as both chef and manager under Neil Perry through a career with the Rockpool Group that spans a collective 13 years. Ben also spent time working and travelling around China as part of the opening team for Andrea’s at the Wynn Palace — a mission that fur ..read more

Ready to join the sustainable fashion movement and create some unique accessories with your friends? Our Recycled Earring Workshop is the perfect opportunity to do just that! Ideal for ages 14 years and up. There will be two sessions 9am and 1pm on Saturday 2nd September 2023 at Sample Food Festival, Bangalow Showgrounds. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to transform recycled coffee pods and magazines into stunning, one-of-a-kind earrings. Our expert instructor will walk you through each step of the process. No experience is necessary.  Bring your mates and join in the fun as we turn ..read more

Sample Food Festival 2023 launches! It’s been a wild ride over the last few years (bring on El Nino) and we cannot wait for Sample Food Festival to return to the Bangalow showgrounds on Saturday 2nd September 2023 to showcase our vibrant, resilient and innovative local food economy. There will be a few small changes this year including a move over to the main circle of the showground and the addition of some curated spaces to be enjoyed in a comfortable and relaxed environment. One thing that has never changed in our 11 year history is our selection of incredible regional restaurants, brewe ..read more

Here is your guide to our 10th Anniversary Sample Food Festival! Come on down to the Bangalow Showgrounds this Saturday to taste the best of the Northern Rivers and support our local businesses who have had a really tough few years. You can download our official program below and don’t miss details on how to enter our massive Sample Food Festival Instagram giveaway with an incredible Northern Rivers food and beverage prize pack valued at $1600!! BROWSE TICKETS DOWNLOAD PROGRAM ESSENTIAL INFORMATION PRESALE TICKETS WHEN: Saturday 3rd September 2022 TIME: 8am – 4 ..read more