Central Coast Council is proud to announce the return of the much\u2011loved Harvest Festival, taking place 6-7 June over the long weekend. The festival invites visitors to step behind the farm gate and explore the Central Coast Hinterland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spanning ten rural communities and heritage villages, Harvest Festival offers an immersive mix of local food, farming, culture and creativity, connecting attendees with those who grow and make the region\u2019s renowned produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an exciting evolution of the event, 2026 introduces Harvest Nights; extending the festival after dark with an outdoor cinema, twilight dining, live music and other nighttime experiences that will transform the hinterland into a sparkling evening destination. The expanded program encourages overnight and short stay visitation across the June long weekend, further supporting regional tourism and economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said Harvest Festival is a wonderful celebration of the region\u2019s vibrant rural identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHarvest Festival continues to grow because it reflects who we are as a community \u2013 welcoming, creative and deeply connected to our land,\u201d Mayor McKinna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to support our farmers and producers while inviting locals and visitors to discover the heart of our hinterland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year\u2019s event attracted over 68,000 attendees and contributed over $8 million to the Central Coast economy, demonstrating the significant economic and tourism benefits for the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith encourages visitors to plan ahead to get the most out of their weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHarvest Festival is one of our largest regional events, so we encourage people to check the program early, book their preferred hubs and plan their route in advance, as mobile reception can be limited in some areas,\u201d Ms Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVisitors should also expect increased traffic around event hubs, drive safely and bring cash, as EFTPOS access is minimal at some sites. If wet weather occurs, updates will be shared on the event Facebook page and through Star FM 104.5.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more event information or to view the full program, visit lovecentralcoast.com <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Central Coast Council is proud to announce the return of the much\u2011loved Harvest Festival, taking place 6-7 June over the long weekend. The festival invites visitors to step behind the farm…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-9752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-events"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/Harvest-Festival.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/feed\/podcast\/coffee-with-a-coastie","embedCode":"Step Behind the Farm Gate: Discover the Heart of Our Hinterland at Harvest Festival<\/a><\/blockquote>