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Byron Shire
July 15, 2026

September Food Festival

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Sample Food Festival

Entry to the Sample Food Festival is free for children under 16, and there is a special series of classes, activities and experiences for children.

Kids Cooking Classes: local chef Jedd Rifai of the North Byron Hotel will be teaching the little ones the art of crafting delicious gnocchi from scratch. They’ll mix, shape, and cook their very own lunch. Plus, each participant will receive a refreshing drink, and delectable dessert to round out their meal. These classes are ticketed and have limited capacity so pre-sale bookings are advised.

Wildlife: the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary will be entertaining the kids, teaching them about reptiles and exploring what the Sanctuary has on offer this spring and summer season. For a gold coin donation children can enjoy a close-up encounter and photo with a reptile.

Kids Creative Pass ($10): little ones can enjoy a safe and fun space within the festival grounds with collaborative art and Lego projects, sensory play, active games, take-home crafts and more. This dedicated kids area is great for ages 3–12 and open from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

The Rainbow Roos: an experienced local community-based organisation dedicated to creating a safe and positive soccer environment will be offering a mix of freestyle open play and organised skills sessions free of charge.

Pre-sale tickets are now available to the 2024 edition of Sample Food Festival including general festival entry, a reserved table hire ticket guaranteeing a table for eight with shade in the bar area as well as festival entry. Picnic rug hire experiences will once again be available for groups of up to six and include festival entry and a reserved picnic spot on a Wandering Folk picnic rug.

The festival is on Saturday, 7 September, and will feature a selection of the region’s best restaurants offering $5–$15 tasting plates, a live cooking stage and a lifestyle stall area. For full details see samplefoodevents.com.



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