Top 10 annual events within the Scenic Rim

Just an hour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim delivers the perfect destination for a romantic retreat, a family getaway or a trip with friends – and it gets even better when you line it up with some of the region’s signature events.

From food and wine to arts and culture, nature and farming celebrations, every season the Scenic Rim plays host to a vibrant calendar of experiences found nowhere else.

Keen to join in the fun? Here are the top ten picks on the local events scene.

Every spring, a local farm on the outskirts of the quiet town of Kalbar transforms into a golden sea of sunflowers for the Kalbar Sunflower Festival.

For three days only, visitors frolic among over one million sunflowers in bloom, snap Insta-worthy photo moments and soak up the cheerful community vibes on the farm.

Beyond the flowers, the festival has a program of live music, local food stalls, market stalls and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Tamborine Mountain has long been known as a creative haven, and there’s no better time to experience its artistic spirit than during the Tamborine Mountain Arts Trail. Held over three inspiring days, this event invites visitors to step behind the scenes of one of Queensland’s most vibrant arts communities.

The Trail showcases a diverse mix of creatives from painters, sculptors and potters to musicians, performers and multi-disciplinary artists, all living, working or creating on the Mountain and in the surrounding region. Studios, galleries and unexpected spaces open their doors, offering rare insight into the creative process and the stories behind each artwork.

You’ll find gallery openings, hands-on workshops, live performances and intimate artist talks, creating an immersive experience that goes well beyond simply viewing art.

Not just one event – but a whole month’s worth! Held every June across the entire region, Eat Local Month is a celebration of the very best of the Scenic Rim’s culinary scene, with an event to tempt every foodie.

Gather your friends and indulge in a long lunch or dinner in stunning settings, from lavender fields to majestic mountain peaks. From hatted restaurants to quaint cafes, Scenic Rim chefs craft each event to deliver not just exceptional flavours, but a full experience that celebrates local seasonal ingredients and the region’s distinctive gastronomic spirit.

Or why not test your skills at an artisan-run workshop – there’s everything from beer brewing and honey harvesting, to cooking classes and sustainable farming events. Connect with passionate locals eager to share their knowledge and take your treats and education home with you.

Not forgetting families, there’s plenty of fun for little foodies too. Enjoy days out cuddling farm animals, behind-the-scenes tours on working farms and roasting marshmallows on campfire cookouts under the stars.

Add to the mix a bevy of farmers markets to pick up gourmet cheeses, craft cider and farm-fresh goodies, and you’ve got yourself a full day of flavour and adventure.

The signature event of Eat Local Month, the Winter Harvest Festival is where the whole community gets together for one massive flavour-filled day out.

With exhibitors from all over the region, visitors can stock up their esky with fresh fruit and veggies, craft beverages, meats, cheese and stroll through more than 60 market stalls.

Munch on delicious ready-to-eat food options before watching cooking demonstrations and listening to live music and panel discussions, or hoot and holler at the much anticipated Tractor Pull competition, where teams dig deep for community pride and bragging rights.

Held in the town of Beaudesert, the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular is a celebration of the Clydesdale breed of horse and its history in the Scenic Rim dating back to the 1800s mixed in with a good dose of Scottish heritage, ancient trades and community spirit.

The three-day festival attracts breeders and owners from across the nation and visitors can marvel at these glorious horses up close. Watch them glide through the showing ring or work in unison to pull a horse-drawn carriage.

Pipe and drum bands play throughout the festival, lending a colourful highland atmosphere to the event, and the swing of meticulously draped tartan kilts is a display of proud Scottish tradition.

If rare trades are your thing, you’re in for a treat as blacksmiths, wheelwrights (the art of building and repairing wooden wheels), spoonsmiths and lumberjacks demonstrate their abilities.

Grab a haggis pie or craft ale, watch the whip cracking tournament and caber toss, see working dogs in action and let the kids pet some baby farm animals all in a fun day out.

There’s a saying that ‘every family needs a farmer’, and whether you are one or want to meet one – the Scenic Rim Farming Expo is the place to be.

Held in the town of Harrisville, the two-day event is open to everyone from backyard gardeners to big-acre farmers and farming mega fans.

Exhibitors showcasing the latest in farming, sustainability and rural living share their knowledge and passion about the future of farming in the region.  Witness interesting demonstrations, discover career opportunities, connect with farmers of all sorts and be inspired by your newfound knowledge.

Hosted by a passionate group called the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club, Springtime on the Mountain is an open garden trail that invites you to explore a heavenly range of private mountain gardens in full bloom.

Over three days, passionate home growers open their gardens to the public to enjoy the sights, scents, colours and tranquillity of the beautiful landscapes.

With a comprehensive map available of all top spots to visit, it’s also a great opportunity to visit some of the cafes, galleries and boutiques along the way.

When you round the bend on the roads through Tamborine Mountain, you expect to see lush rainforests, quaint cafés and charming village scenes – but scarecrows?

That’s right! Every October, the Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival comes alive in the form of a huge outdoor sculpture show, as hundreds of scarecrows pop up along streets, gardens and paddocks, bringing a playful and quirky twist to your mountain adventure.

With some entrants investing many hours into their designs, part of the fun each year is seeing the creative concepts locals come up with. From the silly to the spooky, some fan favourites include mermaids, ballroom dancers, motorbike gangs and giant spiders.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience country charm at its most playful, Kalbar’s Hay Bale Trail and Country Day is the perfect excuse to plan a spring escape.

This much-loved celebration brings the community together for a weekend of good old-fashioned fun and at the heart of it all is the famous Hay Bale Trail. In the lead up to the event, locals spend weeks transforming hay bales into eye-catching sculptures ready for visitors to spot. Past favourites include Mick-hay and Min-hay Mouse, Kentuck-Hay Fried Chicken and the unforgettable Kalbar J-hay-l (yes, a jail made entirely of hay).

On Kalbar Country Day, the small township comes alive with 140 market stalls lining the entire main street with handmade treasures, local produce and live entertainment all filled with country spirit.

From Boonah and Beaudesert, to Tamborine Mountain and Canungra, the region’s major towns come alive each year with classic country shows that celebrate community connection.

With traditional livestock judging, pavilion displays showcasing local produce, baking, crafts and photography, alongside woodchopping, equestrian events and sideshow alley favourites, the show scene offers authentic small-town charm and is a highlight on the events calendar for both locals and visitors.

Tip: Be sure to stay for additional events either side of show days, including the adrenaline-fuelled Canungra Rodeo.

Looking for more great experiences in the Scenic Rim? The Scenic Rim is bursting with things to do and see all year round. Click here to explore.