3 things to do on the Central Coast this month

Go behind the scenes of the Central Coast hinterland’s most fruitful farms for the annual Harvest Festival, a celebration of music, food and community. Ten rural suburbs are joining the festivities with local farmsteads offering more than 30 activities so you can pick and choose your ideal agricultural weekend  while supporting the hardworking farmers who grow what we eat. There’s something for everyone – from elegant paddock-to-plate long lunches to picnics *in* the paddock with cows and other friendly farm animals. Pick your own sunflower bouquet or bottle up some Eastcoast juice. Hop between historical villages and have a boogie at the Glenworth Grazing Food and Wine Festival, all taking place over the June long weekend.

The Central Coast Chilli Festival is coming in hot at The Entrance, offering up as many ways as you can think of to eat spicy food. The free family (and pup)-friendly affair will be slinging all kinds of chilli-flavoured and -infused bites on Sunday, June 15 from 10am. Never fear if spice tolerance isn’t really your thing – food trucks will be serving up plenty of mild options as well, and you can sip on a whole range of delicious wines and beers. Settle in for some live music, and if you’re game, enter in the chilli eating competition.

Lace up your joggers for an epic (and ridiculously scenic) running festival. Bay to Bay is a collection of runs – some fun and some not for the faint of heart – to raise money for local Central Coast charities like Central Coast Kids in Need, Camp Breakaway (a getaway for people with disabilities and their families) and The Glen (an Aboriginal community rehabilitation centre). The track follows scenic waterways from Woy Woy to Gosford, and it’s all going down on Sunday, June 15. As a tribute to the community event’s popularity, the marathon and half-marathon are already sold out, but the 5km and 12km fun runs, plus a kiddies run, are still on the cards if you want to get in on the action (and support a good cause).