Farmgate Festival returns for a fourth year in 2020, connecting people with locally produced food. The festival will take place this year on 21^st and 22^nd November, when a handful of small farm and rural businesses in the West Tamar will open their gates to the public for the weekend.

Visitors can visit the farms they’re interested in, for short guided tours hosted by the business owners themselves.

The aim of the festival is to educate and inform people on how real food is produced. This year, thirteen businesses will take part. Some have been part of the festival since its inaugural year, and some join us for the first time to tell their stories.  

There’s plenty to discover, as the farms, orchards and vineyards showcase how they go about their business. You can expect to see demonstrations of harvesting, production and processing techniques. There will be product samples and tastings, animal encounters and farmgate sales.

Tours vary in length. Some are short at around 10 to 20 minutes, some a little longer, up to 40 minutes. As a visitor, you will drive your own vehicle between venues, choosing the farms to suit you, and taking in the scenic Tamar Valley along the way.

Festival tickets gain you entry to as many farms as you would like to visit on both days, allowing plenty of time over the whole weekend to visit.

New to the festival for 2020 is walnut farm Tamar Valley Organic, and Marion’s Vineyard who have a focus on biodynamics. Returning for the second time are Wilmores Bluff sheep and cattle farm, Bridgenorth Berries and Glengarry Dairy.

Remaining with the festival are Tamar Valley Truffles, Tascargot snail farm, Brady’s Lookout Cider, Grey Sands Vineyard who will be offering a plant sale, Lentara Grove and Village Olive Grove, Honey Tasmania – The Beehive, and Waterton Hall historic estate.

A further highlight of the festival is the dinner event, to be held this year at Loira Vines. Their Four Season Soiree will feature the music of Vivaldi, with a four course dinner matched with both music and wines. Dinner will feature produce from the Farmgate venues and the region. Tickets available here.

We recommend a selection of cafes and places for lunch around the valley, and you’ll find details of these in our program and here on the website.