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[title]One of the newest highlights on Sydney’s foodie calendar, Horizontal Festival is officially back for round two. Only a 90-minute drive from Sydney down the Hume, Bowral is Australia’s answer to the quaint English countryside, without the expensive flights. Throw a long-weekend festival into the mix, and it’s a no-brainer. So, pack up the car and head south from October 1-5 for a celebration of all things food, wine and music set against a picturesque backdrop.
You’ll find most of the action at the festival hub at Centennial Vineyards. Enjoy unlimited wine tastings, access to the Maldon Salt Culinary Stage which features a Saturday lunchtime session with Argentine chef Francis Mallmann and appearances by culinary legends like Matt Moran, Mark Best and Mindy Woods. Between wining and dining, settle in for Wine & Conversation with Nick Ryan, join a curated tasting circle or explore the Hops Garden and The Orchard.
Music lovers are equally well catered for, with vinyl DJs spinning every evening, a headline performance by Furnace and the Fundamentals on Friday night and a lively mix of live bands and roving entertainment. You can check out the full lineup here.
There’s also plenty of satellite events to check out over the weekend. On Thursday, join Bites & Barrels hosted by Matt Moran at the Centennial Vineyard Cellar Door. On Sunday, just before the NRL kickoff, catch crowd favourite The Battle of the Banger as it returns to one of Australia’s oldest and coolest country pubs, the Surveyor General Inn in Berrima. After a brief hiatus, this legendary sausage-making competition has been reimagined for the festival, much to the delight of locals and snag aficionados alike.
Wrap up the weekend on Monday with the Jam Exchange and Market at The Mill Bowral, or join a six-course live-fire dining experience, Fiesta del Fuego with Francis Mallmann, at Osborn House in Bundanoon.
Whether you’re craving a weekend away or a local looking to play tourist in your own backyard, consider your October long weekend plans sorted. Grab your tickets before they sell out. General Admission starts at $59.
For more information and to book tickets, visit the Horizontal Festival website.