Tasting the delight of locally grown, Bungendore’s Harvest Festival coming soon

Posted on 7 April, 2026

Over one delicious weekend – 17 to 19 April – visitors and locals alike can explore where our produce comes from, meet passionate growers and makers, and experience the flavours of the region through tastings, farm visits, shared meals and hands-on experiences.

2026 has been declared the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, and the festival launch dinner will celebrate local women in food and farming. The evening will feature a family-style dinner featuring produce grown by local female farmers, and cooked by Ruth Gaha Morris of Scrumpers’ Kitchen. Over dinner, local food writer Lucy Ridge will be in conversation with HerCanberra’s Emma Macdonald, discussing Lucy’s recently published book ‘Fed Up – a chef’s adventures in food, farming & feminism’.

“Harvest Festival really showcases the best of our region’s food,” says Lucy.

“It’s such a delicious way to get involved in the community, and I’m excited for a launch dinner with all ingredients grown by women! What a fabulous way to celebrate female farmers and learn more about who grows our food.”

Ruth Gaha Morris of Scrumpers’ Kitchen will cook a feast

Saturday will see the streets of Bungendore come alive with the popular Harvest Market. Stallholders from around the region will showcase seasonal produce, arts and crafts, spirits, wine, olive oil, and more. Live music, family activities, and plenty of delicious local food make it a great day out.

On Saturday afternoon, book into a craft and gin tasting event. In this guided session, participants will create a harvest-inspired etching and print, as well as taste their way through the gins of Everyday Legacy Distillery. A unique experience combining art, local produce and artisan spirits.

On Sunday the festival heads out into the region, with farm tours, workshops and a seasonal long lunch. Attendees can enjoy a guided tour of Millpost Farm, one of the longest continually worked broad-scale permaculture properties, established in 1979.

Lucy Ridge will discuss her new book Fed Up

In the afternoon, they can head to Jerrabatt Gully Farm, where Geoff Foster has been supplying fresh produce to consumers in the Canberra-Bungendore region since 1995. Based in Wamboin, this farm is a great example of cool climate vegetable growing in the region.

An autumn long lunch will take place on Sunday at Branch & Burrow farm, just outside of Braidwood. The lunch will be cooked by Sam Hawker of Garden Kitch’n Witch’n, featuring Branch and Burrow’s pasture-raised chicken alongside a seasonal menu that celebrates the very best of the region’s fruit and vegetables.

Southern Harvest General Manager Ruth Gaha Morris says “Harvest Festival gives us the opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the great local produce in our region. People are interested in knowing where their food comes from, and this is an opportunity to actually talk to the people who grew it and create meaningful connections.”

Bungendore Harvest Festival is supported by Bendigo Bank and will run from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 April, with different programmed activities on each day. Some events are ticketed.