The Babinda Harvest Festival is a vibrant and cherished event that brings together the local community, businesses, schools, and various associations as it celebrates the region’s agricultural heritage, showcases local produce and facilitates a jolly good time. It takes place each September.

Babinda is located 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Cairns.The town is close to Queensland’s two highest mountains Mount Bartle Frere (Queensland’s highest peak) and Mount Bellenden Ker.

We spent a lovely time there with our family, a few years ago, and include a video we shot on the occasion below.

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The festival features a lively market with fresh fruits, vegetables, and handmade crafts, as well as cooking demonstrations by local chefs. Visitors can enjoy live music, family-friendly activities such as a fun fair, and learn about sustainable farming practices. Don’t miss the chance to support local businesses and indulge in delicious produce at this wonderful celebration of the region’s heritage

Babinda and Tully annually compete for the Golden Gumboot, an award for Australia’s wettest town. Babinda is usually the winner, recording an annual average rainfall of over 4,279.4 millimetres (168.48 in) each year, but it never rains on festival day (honestly….).

Babinda Harvest Festival Collage
Babinda Harvest Festival Collage courtesy festival face book page

Festival Events

  • Street Parade – Floats in the street parade are a festival highlight. Schools, clubs, and associations can display their creativity and community spirit.
  • Duck Dash
  • Participation Opportunities: Businesses, schools, clubs, or associations are encouraged to get involved in various ways such as having a stall at the markets, entering a float in the street parade, or setting up a food stal​​​​​​ls
  • Events and Activities: The festival hosts a range of events including a high tea with the Harvest Festival Princesses, a cabaret, a traders competition for the best-dressed shop, a golf day, trivia night, markets
  • Fundraising and Community Involvement: The Harvest Festival Princesses play a significant role in fundraising for the event. They can be met at various festival activities like the high tea, markets, duck dash, ball, and trivia nigh​​​​​​
  • NQ Tractor Pull
  • Food Stalls
  • Babinda Harvest Festival Cabaret
  • Babinda Traders Competition – Local shops compete for the best-dressed storefront, adding a festive air to the streets.
  • Harvest Festival Golf Day
  • Babinda Harvest Festival Markets

BABINDA HARVEST FESTIVAL WEBSITE

BABINDA HARVEST FESTIVAL FACEBOOK

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