Apple and Grape Harvest Festival 2022: Full program and events you can’t miss
Stanthorpe is set to come alive from this weekend with this year’s Apple and Grape Festival! From the iconic grape crush and street parades to carnivals and more, this is your full wrap of unmissable events.
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Stanthorpe’s beloved Apple and Grape Harvest Festival is back and bigger than ever in 2022, overcoming Covid and the threat of severe weather to schedule one of its most epic line-ups yet.
The biennial event kicked off on Friday and will run through to March 6 for 10 days of celebrating the best produce, wine, and entertainment the Granite Belt has to offer.
This year’s event will also coincide with the 150th anniversary of Stanthorpe, which is set to bring an extra reason to celebrate and a swag of new events to the festival.
A wet and rainy start to the opening weekend could not put a damper on the community’s excitement, and the jam-packed program is set to attract thousands of visitors to Stanthorpe and the wider Granite Belt.
This year’s festival will see themed produce days throughout the event, from brew and produce days to celebrating the central apple and grape produce of the Granite Belt.
Check out the full wrap of events you just can’t miss at this year’s festival below:
Australian Busking Championships
The first Saturday of the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival is set to come alive with the Australian National Busking Championship Southeast Queensland Finals.
Some of the region’s best musical talents will be on display at busking stations across the Stanthorpe CBD, with performers competing for prize money and entry to the National Championship.
Attendees can catch the live performances for free between 9am and 2pm, but will need a gold coin entry fee to watch the busking finals from 2.30pm.
Homegrown Stanthorpe act Nine Year Sister will kick off the final concert with a set of their own.
WHEN: Saturday from 9am
WHERE: Stanthorpe CBD
COST: Free before 3pm
150 Years of Stanthorpe celebrations
Two exhibitions dedicated to celebrating 150 years of rich Stanthorpe history will be on display throughout the Apple and Grape festival.
The Stanthorpe Camera Club has captured the century and a half of the region’s history in images and compiled it into an immersive exhibition in the Stanthorpe Civic Centre, designed to depict the town’s changes and pivotal moments through past and present residents’ eyes.
Students from schools across the Granite Belt have also collaborated to create their own display celebrating 150 years of their hometown’s history.
WHEN: Daily from Monday, 10am – 4pm
WHERE: Stanthorpe Civic Centre
COST: Free
Apple and Grape Variety Concert
Some of Stanthorpe’s best musical talents will be on display at the Apple and Grape Variety Concert.
Featuring acts such as Nine Year Sister and Penny and Roger along with school choirs from across the region, there’s sure to be something to keep every crowd entertained.
WHEN: Tuesday, 6pm – 9pm
WHERE: Stanthorpe Civic Centre
COST: $5 entry
Public Grape Crush
The Grape Crush is one of the most iconic events at every Apple and Grape festival and it’s sure to be one of the event’s biggest draw cards again this year.
This first public event will see visitors and residents get involved in the grape-stomping action, with this year’s event sponsored by Granite Belt favourite Balancing Heart Vineyard.
Participant tickets are sold out, but there’s no reason you can’t head down and check out the action from the sidelines!
WHEN: Friday at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm
WHERE: Farley St Piazza, Stanthorpe
COST: Free to watch, participant tickets sold out
Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta
Kicking off the main weekend of the festival is the opening of the Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta.
Weeroona Park will come alive with a stack of food and wine vendors stocking delights from across the region, making it your one-stop shop for some of the best produce the Granite Belt has to offer.
With live entertainment also on show and plenty of room for picnic blankets or seating, the fiesta could prove a great place to relax without missing any of the Apple and Grape action.
Proof of Covid vaccination will be required.
WHEN: Friday (March 4) 5pm – 10pm; Saturday 9am – 10pm; Sunday 9am – 6.30pm
WHERE: Weeroona Park, Stanthorpe
COST: $10 for adults, under 18s free – click here to book
Apple and Grape Gala Ball
The festival’s night of nights is back and bigger than ever at the 2022 event.
Guests will need to frock up and put their best foot forward for the two-course meal prepared by an award-winning team of chefs and accompanied by the region’s best drops.
The event will be hosted by two Stanthorpe success stories in cricketer Greg Ritchie and 4 Ingredients author Kim McCosker, and live entertainment will be provided by Toowoomba act Lodi and the REDTIE party band.
Attendees must show proof of Covid vaccination.
WHEN: Friday, 5.45pm – midnight
WHERE: Stanthorpe Showgrounds
COST: $99 per person – click here to book
Rebel FM Street Carnival
Head down to Stanthorpe’s main street during the final Saturday of the festival to check out the epic entertainment at the Rebel FM Street Carnival.
Food and market stalls will be just the beginning, with roving performers and live entertainment keeping the party going all day long.
WHEN: Saturday (March 5), 9am – late
WHERE: Stanthorpe CBD on High, Maryland, and Victoria Sts
COST: Free entry, vendor prices will vary
Stanthorpe Rodeo
The massive Granite Belt rodeo event is also coinciding with this year’s Apple and Grape Festival, bringing all the thrills and spills of the exciting sport to visitors from across the state.
A full rodeo program throughout the day will kick on into the evening with entertainment from the Johnny Ringo’s DJ.
You can even try your own hand at rodeo with a turn on the mechanical bull, and there’s plenty to keep kids entertained with a jumping castles and more.
WHEN: Saturday (March 5) from 10am
WHERE: Stanthorpe Showgrounds
COST: Adults $20, children five – 18 $10, adult concession $15, family (two adults, two children) $50 – click here to book
Channel 7 Grand Parade
The Apple and Grape Harvest Festival Grand Parade is sure to be a spectacle to see this year!
The colourful celebration of the Granite Belt harvest and communities across the region will light up the main street, with decorative floats and entertainment galore.
A Stanthorpe RSL bands parade will lead up to the main event throughout the morning, and attendees can also catch a toe-tapping finale performance afterwards.
WHEN: Saturday (March 5), 2pm – 3pm; RSL bands from 10.30am – noon and 3pm – 3.30pm
WHERE: Stanthorpe CBD on High and Maryland Sts
COST: Free
Celebrity Grape Crush Championship
The region’s most high-profile identities are set to battle it out for the title of 2022 champion in the Celebrity Grape Crush event.
While there’s no confirmation as yet as to who will feature in the iconic competition, past years have seen everyone from state and federal politicians to prominent Granite Belt faces race to be crowned the winner.
Check out the major draw card on the main street following all the action of the Grand Parade, and hang around to catch an epic fireworks show from 7.30pm.
WHEN: Saturday (March 5), 4pm – 4.30pm
WHERE: Stanthorpe CBD, corner of High and Maryland Sts
COST: Free for spectators
Sunday Street Carnival
Wrap up a massive 10 days of action and fun with the Sunday Street Carnival.
Victoria St will be closed to traffic to enable street stalls, pop-up entertainment stages, amusement rides, and more to take over in a hive of carnival activity.
The fun-filled day should prove an epic finale to another massive Apple and Grape Harvest Festival.
WHEN: Sunday (March 6), 10am – 5pm
WHERE: Victoria St, Stanthorpe
COST: Free entry, vendor prices will vary
Get the full 2022 Apple and Grape Harvest Festival program here.
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