Harvest Festival 2026 Expression of Interest
We’re inviting you to help bring 2026 Harvest Festival and our very first Harvest Nights to life. Be part of something special as we showcase our beautiful hinterland during the day, and after dark, with our inaugural Harvest Nights!
Harvest Festival is presented by Central Coast Council over the June long weekend. In 2025 over 68,000 people came out to enjoy the Coast’s beautiful hinterland, with over $8 million flowing into the local economy.
This event is made possible through the unique experiences, tours and events offered by our community at each of our event hubs.
Submit your interest in joining 2026 Harvest Festival and Harvest Nights
---
Harvest Nights EOI (funded opportunity)
Who can apply?
Harvest Festival Expression of Interest is available to eligible sole traders, businesses, creatives, companies or organisations that propose an event or event concept that satisfies the requirements.
The Festival committee is also looking to fund a range of unique events to run in the evening that provide the community and visitors with a diverse Festival calendar.
Funding is only available for events that take place in the evening. Applying for funding is optional. If you do not wish to pursue funding, please select complete the other expression of Interest form.
Event Innovation funding is available to those who would like assistance funding their evening event.
The maximum funding per application is $5,000 (exclusive of GST, if applicable).
Please Note: Applicants will be required to provide a full event management plan, budget, marketing plan and or project plan prior to final funding determination.
Types of events that will be considered:
Events that held in the evening during the Harvest Festival weekend that offer engaging, high impact experiences that enhance the Festivals appeal and encourage extended visitation.
We are seeking bold, innovative, and creative ideas that stay true to the Harvest Festival’s values of celebrating local produce, culture, and community. Events will be assessed by the committee based on their ability to:
• Add value to the overall Harvest Festival program
• Involve and engage the local community
• Attract visitors to the region
• Reflect the harvest theme either through location, concept, or content
Examples of events may include (but not limited to).
• Outdoor cinema within the orchards
• Lighting Installations
• Live music within the orchards
• Degustation dinners
• Night Markets
• Long table farm dinners
• Lantern walks and tours
Preference will be given to events that can attract attendees from outside the region.
Eligibility
• The organisation responsible for the initiative is a legal entity such as a Sole Trader, Trust, company or incorporated association and can provide evidence of this status.
• Events are to be held within the Hinterland Central Coast.
• Funded events need to be held on the evening.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate an extensive community involvement.
• Applicants who have previously obtained funding from Council under any of Council’s funding programs, will not be eligible to apply for assistance until that previous funding has been acceptably accounted for, by its agreed due date.
• Applications for partial funding of proposals must be supported by evidence that funding has been sought/obtained from other sources.
• Applications not meeting the eligible criteria set out in this procedure will not be reported to the Committee for consideration.
• Must have $20mil Public Liability Insurance for the period of the event.
• Applicants must demonstrate to Council that their organisation is able to effectively manage and deliver the proposed event.