Toowoomba council endorses Meatstock 2025 event with $25k sponsorship after festival attracts 19,000 tourists to city

After attracting nearly 19,000 tourists and injecting millions into Toowoomba’s economy, Meatstock has been rewarded with a big council sponsorship for next year’s event.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has bumped up its sponsorship of the city’s biggest single event, which attracted 19,000 people to the region and injected $4.5m into the local economy.

Meatstock will be back again in 2025 after this year’s addition drew 23,000 attendees, 82 per cent of which came from outside Toowoomba.

The travelling barbecuing and meat festival also delivered 25,000 visitor nights for Toowoomba, and plans to do similar numbers over just two days in 2025.

More than 72,000 people attended all four festival spots in Toowoomba, New Zealand, Sydney and Bendigo.

All this was enough to convince the councillors this month to endorse a $25,000 sponsorship of next year’s event, an increase from $15,000 in 2023 and nothing this year.

This value was half what organisers Fat Apple Events had asked for.

Meatstock – Music, Barbecue and Camping Festival at Toowoomba Showgrounds. Friday March 8, 2024 Picture: Bev Lacey

In his report to councillors, manager of economic development Anthony Holzwart said Meatstock had demonstrated its value to the Toowoomba region.

“Providing sponsorship would continue to secure the event for the Toowoomba region for locals to attend, and as a major event attractor to the region outside of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers period,” his report said.

“Previous events attracted a significant number of visitors from outside the Region resulting in a positive impact to the local economy.”

All councillors, with the exception of Kerry Shine, endorsed the motion for sponsorship.

Economic development spokeswoman councillor Edwina Farquhar said she was excited to see the festival return in 2025.

“Council’s sponsorship package will help the organisers tempt the tastebuds of visitors and residents to attend Australia’s largest barbecue and music festival, featuring barbecue and butchering competitions, trade expos and entertainment,” she said.

“There’s no better place to feast on Australia’s finest beef dishes and other protein, with a range of leading ‘pit masters’ on hand to display their culinary secrets.

“Council is hopeful of allowing more local suppliers an opportunity to show their produce or contribute services to the popular event.”