Major Southern Downs events planned for 2022 - full list
The rampant spread of Covid across the state has already claimed annual favourites, but other festivities remain full steam ahead. See the full events guide here:
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The Southern Downs is renowned for its epic events and tourism calendar every year, and 2022 is shaping up to be no different despite the threat of Covid.
While several events have already been postponed or cancelled as Queensland’s Covid crisis escalates past 140,000 active cases, other organisers are holding firm on their original schedules for now.
These are the biggest events planned for the Southern Downs this year so far:
DATES CONFIRMED
Apple and Grape Harvest Festival
The huge biennial Granite Belt event is coming back with a bang in 2022 and has a massive 10-day program in store.
Designed to celebrate the region’s famous produce and wine industry, the Apple and Grape Festival includes attendee favourites such as the grand parade and grape-crushing events.
This year’s festival will coincide with the Stanthorpe 150th anniversary celebrations.
DATES: February 25 – March 6
Warwick Show
The 2022 Warwick Show is currently lined up in this March, bringing one of the region’s biggest agriculture back to the community.
The Rose City favourite is renowned for its epic agricultural showing, a mini rodeo event, and rides and attractions for the whole family.
DATES: March 18 – 20
Jumpers and Jazz in July
Warwick’s favourite winter festival is set to bring the Rose City to life again this year after making an epic comeback in 2021.
The 10-day event will see all of its usual favourites return, from colourful yarn creations dressing the trees along Palmerin St to dozens of smooth jazz acts and special events.
DATES: July 21 – 31
Historic Leyburn Sprints
An annual staple for motorsports enthusiasts right across southeast Queensland, the Historic Leyburn Sprints are set to light up the small Southern Downs town once again this year.
The event traditionally attracts thousands of attendees to catch a weekend of celebrity drivers, a Show n Shine, live music and more.
DATES: August 20 – 21
Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft
The biggest and most action-packed rodeo event of the year is slated to take place in the last full week of October, bringing hundreds of the nation’s top competitors to Warwick.
Seven massive days of sport will be accompanied by community favourites such as the Rodeo Street parade, markets and more.
ANTICIPATED DATES: October 24 – 30
POSTPONED
2022 Stanthorpe Show
The first agricultural show of the 2022 season has been postponed indefinitely.
The Stanthorpe Show was first slated for January 29, but has now been pushed back to protect the health and safety of volunteers and attendees as Covid spreads across the state.
A statement from show president Brett Boatfield indicated the financial implications of having to cancel the entire event at the last minute also weighed heavily on the committee.
No alternative date has been set at this stage.
Allora Heritage Weekend
A favourite of history and vintage car fans alike, the 2022 Allora Heritage Weekend is another of the region’s events to be postponed under the threat of Covid.
The committee is set to confirm a new date after its next meeting on February 16.
2022 Killarney Show
The postponement of this year’s Killarney Show was in much the same vein as its Stanthorpe neighbour.
The committee has said they will plan a new date for the 110th annual event later in the year.
Show holidays currently scheduled on January 28, February 4, and February 18 will all still go ahead.
CANCELLED
2022 Allora Show
The Allora Show Society confirmed earlier this week that the 145th year of the event would not go ahead as scheduled next month due to the ongoing spread of Covid.
The event’s management committee released a statement saying the decision hadn’t been made lightly and came as a disappointment to all volunteers, patrons and volunteers after a year of preparation.
“In light of the present outbreaks in our district, the number of cases increasing daily, and the peak of the current wave predicted to be at the time of the Show, it has been decided that the risk to our community was far too great to proceed,” it said.
“The society is not in favour of providing a superspreader event (that) may result in an amplified detrimental effect on our community, whether it be by illness or requirements to isolate.”
Great Australian Bites
Southern Downs Regional Council announced on Tuesday that Warwick’s third annual Great Australian Bites event had been canned.
The Palmerin St festival was scheduled for January 22 to coincide with the Australia Day long weekend.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said the council could not ignore the risks of hosting a public gathering when the spread of Covid was still so rampant.
“We will always put the safety of the community first and we look forward to scheduling another event for when it is safer to do so,” he said.
SDRC will continue working with the State Government and other stakeholders to organise an alternative event.
This list will be updated as new dates and events are confirmed.
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