Nine things to do in the region this week (26 August - 1 September)

Winter’s final week is here and the season ain’t going down quietly in the regions.

The calendar kicks off with a big weekend – a glut of festivals include Frostival in Goulburn, T-Light in Temora, the long-awaited Winter Bites in Batlow and Sisters in Crime bringing it home in Cobargo.

In between there’s a good old-fashioned campfire cookoff, brewery tours and a grow-at-home garden workshop courtesy of the Canberra Seed Savers.

And by the time you reach the Merino field day on the South West Slopes, spring will have officially sprung.

All Weekend

Frostival

When: Thursday 26 to Sunday 28 August, for timing see event overview
Where: Belmore Park, 173 Auburn St and Montague St, Goulburn
Cost: (For ice skating only) adult $15, children (six to 14 years) $10, toddler (three to four years with kanga skating aid) $12, family (two adults, two children) $45, family (one adult, three children) $40, kanga skating aid $8

Known for its frosty mornings, Goulburn marks the end of winter with this vibrant new experience for the whole family. Rug up for the last weekend of winter and watch Belmore Park and Montague Street come alive with winter-themed activities. Expect an ice-skating rink, Foodie Lane, live music, roving entertainment, a fire show, hot chocolates, mulled wine at the Frostival Bar and more.

Saturday

Hometown Throwdown Campfire Cookoff

When: Saturday 27 August, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Where: The Historic Bredbo Inn, 1 Monaro Hwy, Bredbo
Cost: Entry fee $15 payable at the Inn, gold coin donation for sampling

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition – and they don’t do it better than out bush. Fly solo or team up with up to three other people for this good old-fashioned campfire cookoff. Entrants must supply their own cooking gear and ingredients and cook by fire only from start to finish (no pre cooking or preparation before the event start time on site). The Inn will supply hot coals and dirt to dig a hole. Judging kicks off at 3 pm with first, second and third place and people’s choice prizes up for grabs. Up the ante by entering the wife-carrying race and the Bredbo bucket-throwing competition. All proceeds go to the Bredbo Rural Fire Brigade, so get set for a coddle-free cookoff for a cause.

Tumut River Brewing Co. Tours

When: Saturday 27 August and Sunday 28 August, 11 am
Where: Tumut River Brewing Co, 1 – 5 Capper St, Tumut
Cost: $30, book here

Tumut River Brewing Co started “because two mates wanted to make great beer”. Find out how they went from a micro-brewery with a 150-litre production capacity to a 1500-litre, award-winning commercial brewhouse and destination. These interactive tours include an overview of the history, brewing process and a “sense awakening” experience (we won’t spoil the surprise). And, of course, a tasting paddle of four 200 ml glasses of Tumut’s own liquid gold.

Kareela Supper Club presented by G.H. Mumm

When: Saturday 27 August, 4:30 pm
Where: Departing Base of Merritts Gondola, Thredbo Village, Friday Dr, Thredbo
Cost: $199, book here

Saturday nights in Thredbo reach a new level with the Kareela Supper Club. Guests are transported via the Merritts Gondola to Merritts Mountain House where Thredbo’s passenger snowcat awaits. The snowcat takes you across the mountain to Kareela Hutte where you’ll watch the iconic Saturday Fireworks Spectacular and Flare Run, champagne in hand. You’ll then enjoy a two-hour canape and beverage package before returning to the village via snowcat.

T-Light

When: Saturday 27 August, 3 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Lake Centenary, 420 Goldfields Way, Temora
Cost: Free, book here

Temora Business Enterprise Group is bringing a warm glow to winter in rural NSW. Showcasing live local music, food vendors, fire twirlers, fireworks, fire pits and floating lanterns, you can see where the festival gets its name. Bring the family down to the banks of Temora’s Lake Centenary to bid a “warm” farewell to winter.

Winter Bites Fest

When: Saturday 27 August, from 12 pm
Where: Batlow Showground, Memorial Ave, Batlow
Cost: $55 + booking fee, under 18s free but require entry ticket, book here

Set amongst lush green pastures, panoramic vistas of orchards and grazing country, Batlow is the final stop on the Winter Bites Festival event trail. The township beckons visitors to celebrate the best of its region’s produce, beverages and goodies from the likes of Courabyra Wines, Crafty Cider, Junee Licorice & Chocolate, Ladbroken Distillery, MKS Café, Pimientoas Paella, Riverina Gin, The Apple Thief, The Smoking Butcher, Tumut River Brewing Company, Munday’s Catering and Woodfire Desire Pizza. The backdrop of a fantastic music line-up will be headlined by Australian rock royalty You Am I.

Sisters in Crime Festival weekend

When: Saturday 27 August, 10 am to 4:30 pm and 28 August, various times
Where: Cobargo School of Arts Hall, 20 Cobargo Bermagui Rd, Cobargo (Saturday) and Bega Valley Regional Learning Centre, 14 Cabarita Pl, Merimbula (Sunday)
Cost: Various, access program here

This weekend culminates in two events for all budding writers, crime fiction aficionados and bookworms. On the Saturday, join lead investigator Melissa Pouliot and a fantastic line-up of women crime writers including Candice Fox, Vikki Petraitis, Sulari Gentill, Fleur Ferris, Ilsa Evans, Dorothy Johnston, Caroline de Costa and Kay Schubach for a day of panels, conversations and book signings and sales as Sisters in Crime returns to Cobargo. Then on Sunday, the “sisters” head to Merimbula for an exciting series of workshops. Topics include story design, writing life stories and telling true crime as well as 30-minute “access all areas” sessions with one of Australia’s most popular and successful female crime writers, Candice Fox.

Sunday

Growing Veggies from Seed Workshop

When: Sunday 28 August, 2 pm – 4:30 pm
Where: Michelago Railway Station, Ryrie St, Michelago
Cost: $10 for non members, book here

With soaring inflation and spring just about sprung, it’s the perfect time to learn some home veggie-growing skills. Join Arian from the Canberra Seed Savers in this fun and practical introductory workshop, get your hands into some earth and leave feeling confident about growing veggies, herbs and other plants from seed at home. Participants will take home a handout, three kinds of seeds, some pots planted out with seeds and lots of good tips and tricks.

Tuesday