- Scenic Rim Mayor Tom Sharp
- Gen Windley – Owner of the Scenic Rim Farm Shop which hosted the launch, and she was involved form the first event 15 years ago – GREAT SPEAKER
- Steve Moffatt – Moffatt's Produce – a 102 year old multi-generational vege farmer
- Chef Josh Lopez – the first Ambassador Chef for the event, now 11 years involved
- Sarah Canning – owner of Northview Highlands – the mini highlands, and her first time involved with eat local month
- STUNNING overlay of the event, of walking through a bean paddock etc - biggest program yet in 15 years!! Mini highland coos, tiny tiny pigs, ducklings, flowers and a decorated tractor….
FORKS UP FOR 15 YEARS OF FLAVOUR AS SCENIC RIM EAT LOCAL MONTH PLATES UP THE BIGGEST PROGRAM YET!
Prepare to pick, plate and pour your way through Australia's most authentic Paddock to Plate Food and farming experience this June
Prepare your stretchy pants because in 2026, the famous Scenic Rim Eat Local Month celebrates 15 flavour-filled years, proving that what begins as a small seed of an idea can grow into a mighty harvest. Having started as a humble celebration of the region's farmers and producers, it has since flourished into Australia's most authentic paddock-to-plate food and farming event, and a Gold Award winner for Excellence in Food Tourism at the 2025 Queensland Tourism Awards.
Across 153 events – the biggest program to date - including 51 new experiences, the growers, farmers, makers, chefs and flavour masters of the Scenic Rim are once again throwing open their gates, kitchens and paddocks across all of June.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell said, "The continued success of Scenic Rim Eat Local Month highlights the power of food and drink experiences to drive regional visitation.
"Leveraging the Scenic Rim's growing epicurean scene to strengthen tourism demand has delivered strong results, and we expect that momentum to continue with the 2026 Scenic Rim Eat Local Month. The event contributed more than $2.2 million to the state's economy last year, and this expanded program sets the scene for another highly successful festival."
This year's program features 42 On Farm Adventures, 40 Lunches and Dinners (think: mountaintops, paddocks, long tables, intimate tastings), 48 Family Friendly events and 62 Workshops and Experiences.
The program, a flavour-packed love letter to the people, produce, and paddocks of the region, was launched today at Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Café, a stunning local produce hub just outside Kalbar. The menu (details below) celebrated local flavours, showcasing almost 20 local farmers and producers including 4Real Milk, Boxer Brewing, Butcher Co, Cauldron Distillery, Eighth Day Cider, Elderflower Farm, Fifth Acre Organics, Kalfresh, Kengoon Farming, Moffatt Fresh Produce, Mount French Avocados, Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation, Tommerup's Dairy Farm, Towri Sheep Cheeses, Valley Pride Produce, Vanbery Jam Co and Witches Falls Winery with tickets on sale NOW at eatlocalmonth.com.au!
From long lunches on working farms and unforgettable dinners under the stars, to hands-on workshops, tastings, tours and family farm adventures, every event offers a chance to connect with the land, the food and the passionate people behind it. Just an hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Eat Local Month is the ultimate backstage pass to wander the region's farms, villages and country roads, discovering incredible produce and unforgettable stories.
New experiences in 2026 include a much anticipated collaboration between Tamborine Mountain's French bakery Franquette and Brisbane's intimate diner, Joy; a picnic and on-farm experience event at Northview Highlands, home to gorgeous miniature Highland Coos, Valais Blacknose Sheep and Pygmy Goats, and at the newly opened Fox Hill Grove, a dinner and cocktail experience with acclaimed restaurant Blume as well as a cocktail making masterclass.
Foodies can pedal their way around Tamborine Mountain on the Ride, Gather and Graze Picnic Trail with Peddly Picnics, with families also in for a treat with Little Farmers Day Out at Clandulla Cottages & Farmstay offering a new hands-on introduction to life on the land.
Creative experiences are also taking centre stage, from Cupcake Bouquets and Cocktails and Floral Cupcakes and Sparkling Wine, to the Modern Apéritifs Cocktail Class, where local botanicals meet expert mixology. Meanwhile, produce lovers can indulge in experiences like Chocolate, Cheese and Wine in the Vineyard at Bunjurgen Estate Vineyard or roll up their sleeves at the Farm to Jar Pickling Workshop.
For those wanting to truly connect with the land, experiences like Forage to Feast at Tommerup's Dairy Farm and Farm to Table Tour with Javier Codina offer a rare chance to go behind the scenes, meet the farmers and taste produce at its source, and for those seeking something a little more indulgent, this year delivers in spades with the Twilight Feast and Luxury Mountain Escape at Verandah House Country Estate a new event among so many others.
The event is supported by 12 serious food names, with this roll call of volunteer Scenic Rim Food Ambassador chefs the envy of the country, including Brenda Fawdon (Picnic Real Food Bar), Caz Osborne (Scenic Rim Cooking Classes), Cameron Matthews (Mapleton Public House), Caroline Jones (Three Girls Skipping), Daniel Groneberg (Kooroomba Vineyard and Restaurant), Glen Barratt (In Pursuit of Pastry), Jack Stuart (Blume Restaurant), Jake Nicolson (Ghanem Group), Javier Codina (Moda Steak. Tapas. Seasons), Josh Lopez (Lopez at Home), Olivier Boudon (Roastbeef and The Frog) and Richard Ousby (Cru Bar & Sixes and Sevens).
Reflecting on being the first ever Regional Ambassador Chef, Josh Lopez said it was more important than ever to support our local farmers and to experience what the Scenic Rim producers showcase.
"I have always believed food grown locally not only tastes better but it's also about the stories, connection to land and legacy we support. Over the past 15 years it's been my immense privilege to celebrate what these amazing Australians produce in our renowned food bowl, the Scenic Rim. Seeing what they do, how they do it and the heart they put into this, makes working with their produce all the more important."
"This is a month for anyone who believes the best meals come with a story, and maybe a little dirt under the nails. So pack your appetite and sense of adventure, this is as local as it gets," he said.
The Scenic Rim proudly holds the title of Australia's carrot-growing capital, with local farmers harvesting 600 million annually (that's nine billion over the past 15 years!) and the famous Kalfresh Carrot Day (book immediately as this sells out quickly!) remains one of the most popular for families everywhere. June is also the only month that Moffatt's Fresh Produce make their sought-after Carrot Ice-Cream!
Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor, Tom Sharp said, "Eat Local Month provides the opportunity for our local community, visitors and people from all ages and backgrounds to enjoy an authentic paddock-to-plate experience and to renew their connection with our natural environment and agricultural production. With over 100 events on offer, there is a variety of options for everyone and for every taste and budget."
"Traditionally, growers have taken their product to market, however we are seeing an increase in consumers wanting to connect with where their food comes from and buy direct from the producers and growers in region," he said.
"People are not only tasting the freshness and quality of the product but gain an understanding of the farmers' experience, their lifestyle and their dedication to quality produce. This raises awareness of the improvements being made in farming practices to build resilience in rural production and we're seeing more and more artisans take raw and by-products to create something of even greater worth."
"From its modest beginnings in 2011, this event has provided a boost to our rural sector, helping to create jobs and drive our region's prosperity. However it also increases the appreciation for those who put food on our tables and where our food comes from."
The popular Winter Harvest Festival, the signature event and finale of Scenic Rim Eat Local Month and home of the famous Tractor Pull event, will be again held in the stunning country town of Kalbar as part of a full-weekend of harvest activities from June 26 to 28!
Scenic Rim Eat Local Month has become a major economic driver, contributing $2,224,853 to the Scenic Rim economy (↑29%*) last year. Importantly - 82% of attendees indicated they were now likely to buy more local produce.
TIP: Plan your visit, take some time to read the program, and book accommodation and tickets now, because it will sell out!
Scenic Rim Eat Local Month is proudly presented by Scenic Rim Regional Council, with support from major partners Moffatt Fresh Produce and CamperMate, and supporting partners Urban Utilities, Kalfresh Vegetables, Community Bank Kalbar and District, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Allclass Kubota, and 612 ABC Radio Brisbane. The event is also supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland's (Homegrown) Destination Events Program.
SCENIC RIM EAT LOCAL MONTH 2026
Across all of June www.eatlocalmonth.com.au
Tickets on sale NOW
