ATE MEDIA INFORMATION | EVENTS IN REGIONAL NSW

EVENTS IN REGIONAL NSWDestination NSW continues to promote destinations and key events in regional NSW to keep the state high on the list of preferred holiday destinations for visitors.

Since 2011, the NSW Government has secured 331 events that have generated $1.8 billion in intrastate, interstate and international visitor spend in NSW as well as providing national and international exposure and promotion of the state.

According to the International and National Visitor surveys to year end September 2014, NSW welcomed more than 29.5 million international and domestic visitors, who stayed 162.6 million nights.

INVESTMENT PLEDGE SUPPORTS REGIONAL EVENTS

NSW offers a spectacular array of events with community gatherings, music festivals, and food and wine showcases highlighting regional flavours. Thirty-seven Regional Flagship Events will be supported by grants in 2015, following a $500,000 investment pledge by the NSW Government. The Regional Flagship Events Program provides one-year grants of $10,000 and three-year grants totalling $60,000 to support the marketing and advertising of significant regional events and festivals.

Regional Flagship Events such as the Thredbo Blues Festival, The Riverboats Music Festival, the Australian Longboard Surfing Championships, the Canowindra Balloon Challenge, Eurobadalla River of Art, Griffith La Festa and the North Face 100 all attract visitors, create local jobs and boost regional economies through tourism.

Regional events are vital in helping the NSW Government achieve its goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to the state by 2020. Visitor expenditure in regional NSW was worth more than $12 billion in the year ending December 2014.

ANNUAL REGIONAL EVENTS

Here’s a taste of some of the biggest and brightest NSW events each year.

Parkes Elvis Festival, January: The central NSW town of Parkes welcomes thousands of hip-swivelling Elvis impersonators, tribute artists and fans for a dazzling array of events to celebrate the birthday of “the King”. The 2016 festival will include more than 150 Elvis events over five days.

TOP: PARKES ELVIS FESTIVAL. MIDDLE: JACK JOHNSON AT BLUESFEST, BYRON BAY. BOTTOM: DENI UTE MUSTER

Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth, January: Australia’s biggest celebration of country music features 800 performers and 4,000 shows across 120 venues in Tamworth. The event culminates with the Country Music Awards of Australia during which the coveted Golden Guitars are awarded.

Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, February: This thrilling endurance race, for performance and production cars, is held in Bathurst, the home of Australian motor sport. The event attracts more than 50 domestic and international teams, with drivers lining up to take on one of the world’s most famous race tracks.

Bluesfest, April: Australia’s premier blues and roots festival is packed with more than 200 performances by some of the best international and Australian blues, roots, folk, soul and world artists. Idyllic Byron Bay is the popular destination for this Easter event.

Toyota IRONMAN Australia, May: This popular global event consists of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike course and 42.2km run amidst the rugged beauty of the Port Macquarie region. Heralded as one of the most scenic IRONMAN courses in the world, the event has been ranked as the number one IRONMAN race in the world by competitors.

Coates Hire Rally Australia, September: The Coffs Coast hosts the annual Australian leg of the FIA World Rally Championship, an epic competition where some of the world’s greatest drivers battle it out in tough and rugged terrain.

Deni Ute Muster, October: This award-winning regional event celebrates the iconic ‘ute’, a typical Australian pick-up truck. The two-day festival attracts all ages, with live music featuring a stellar line-up of international and Australian artists, ute-driving competitions, a bull-ride spectacular and more.

Dungog Festival, October: Set in the pretty country town of Dungog, this four-day event showcases international and Australian cinema, live music from some of Australia’s most exciting new talent, dinner beneath the stars, and other inspiring activities.

Orange Wine Festival, October: Experience the rich and diverse wine and food culture of Orange in Central NSW. Known for its fine cool-climate wines and wide range of gourmet produce, Orange is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious short break from Sydney.

IT’S ON IN REGIONAL NSW

An annual events calendar serves up an eclectic mix of carnivals, music festivals, food and wine showcases and sporting events. Coming up in the next year are:

■ Pokolbin: Snow Time in the Garden, June 20 to July 12

■ Wagga Wagga: Eastern University Games, July 5 to 9

■ Coffs Harbour: FFA National Youth Championships for Girls, July 6 to 10

■ Coffs Harbour: Australian Surf Festival, July 31 to August 17

■ Coffs Harbour: Offshore Superboat Championships (Round 4), August 15 to 16

■ Bangalow: Sample Food Festival, September 5

■ Coffs Harbour: Coffs Harbour Running Festival, September 6

■ Dubbo: Dubbo Stampede, September 6

■ Coffs Harbour: Coates Hire Rally (World Rally Championship), September 10 to 13

■ Woolgoolga: Woolgoolga Curryfest, September 26

■ Coffs Harbour: FFA National Youth Championships for Boys, September 28 to October 2

■ Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Leeton and Junee: Taste Riverina, October 1 to 30

■ Deniliquin: Deni Ute Muster, October 2 to 3

■ Murrumbateman: Murrumbateman Moving Feast, October 3 to 4

■ Griffith: Griffith Citrus Sculptures, October 11 to 24

■ Wingham: Wingham Akoostik Festival, October 16 to 18

■ Orange: Orange Wine Festival, October 16 to November 1

■ Port Macquarie: Toyota IRONMAN Australia, October 18

■ Dungog: Dungog Festival, October 22 to 25

■ The Entrance: Chromefest, October 23 to 25

■ Port Macquarie: Tastings on Hastings, October 24 to 25

■ Eden: Eden Whale Festival, October 31 to November 1

■ Port Stephens: Tastes at the Bay, October 31 to November 1

■ Hunter Valley: Sculpture in the Vineyard, October 31 to November 29

■ Carcoar: Carcoar Cup Running Festival, November 7 and 8

■ Mullumbimby: The Mullum Music Festival, November 19 to 22

■ Temora: Warbirds Downunder Airshow, November 21

■ Parkes: Parkes Elvis Festival, January 6 to 10

■ Tamworth Country Music Festival, January 15 to 24

■ Bathurst: Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, February 5 to 7.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONsydney.com visitnsw.com

PR CONTACT

Allison Lee Director, Media & Public Relations at Destination NSW +61 (0) 2 9931 1318 / +61 (0) 437 490 187 allison.lee@dnsw.com.auSOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @sydney_sider, @NSWtipsFacebook: facebook.com/seesydney, facebook.com/visitnswInstagram: @sydney, @visitnsw

IMAGESTo view and order images from the Destination NSW image library, go to: images.destinationnsw.com.auCreate an account in order to view and order images required.Note: Some images require mandatory credits.