This article shares a list of events and festivals happening in Toowoomba in 2024.
If you’ve never tackled the two-hour drive out to this major regional centre now is the time! We’ve found a heap of Toowoomba events that will have you grabbing the car keys for a family road trip before you know it.
Toowoomba is a truly beautiful town and a joy to visit with its picturesque gardens and historic buildings. Don’t be put off by the drive time as it’s all completed on a highway with only a small bit of excitement at the end when you drive up the range. The kids will love spotting cows along the way and discovering a new place. Toowoomba events are well respected from the Toowoomba Royal Show to the famous Carnival of Flowers. Here’s our run-down on the best Toowoomba events and festivals to add to your calendar over the coming year.
Looking for playgroups and toddlers’ activities in Toowoomba? We know that!
Toowoomba events confirmed for 2024
January 2024
Australia Day Events 2024
- 26 January 2024
Various locations across the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region are hosting Australia Day events this year. Join them as they reflect on and respect local achievement and service with Australia Day Awards, and celebrate what it is to be an Aussie with great family fun, food and competition.
Events are being held in Clifton, Pittsworth, Highfields, Cambooya, Rosalie, Millmerran & Cecil Plains and Toowomba. This will be held across various locations and times. Check out the Toowoomba Council website for more details.
March 2023
Lost Trades Fair – to be confirmed for 2024
Discover inspiration, skill, craftsmanship, and the revival of rare and forgotten trades, as well as lost arts and traditions at the Lost Trades Fairs. Talented artisans dedicated to their crafts will exhibit their mastery and share their expertise.
The Lost Trades Fairs seek to inspire, educate, and advocate for the value of handmade goods over machine-made products. Attendees are encouraged to consider sustainability and the durability of their purchases, fostering confidence in designing and creating finely crafted items. These events aim to promote skill-sharing and showcase the remarkable outcomes achievable through dedication, passion, and knowledge.
Drawing artisans from across Australia and beyond, Stone of Arc will proudly present the traditional craft of dry stone walling at each fair, alongside fellow artisans such as blacksmiths, weavers, and woodturners.
April 2024
The Toowoomba Royal Show 2024
- 18, 19, 20 April 2024
The Toowoomba Royal Show is a highly anticipated event held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds. A favourite for families, the three-day event includes rides, stalls and live entertainment, offering something for all ages.
May 2023
Hampton Food & Arts Festival
- 21 May 2023
Set in the unique atmosphere of a high country village, The Hampton Festival on 21 May 2023 is a vibrant celebration of local food production, regional artisans and music. The Festival is a food and cultural extravaganza with an extensive events program giving you a unique, authentic High Country experience and highlights the autumn season and natural beauty of the Hampton region. Bring your family and enjoy hands-on food and artistic workshops, regional farm tours and experience the diversity of the High Country Hamlets region and local produce at events over the weekend.
June 2023
FarmFest 2023
- 6 – 8 June 2023
Don’t miss FarmFest 2023! FarmFest 2023 will be staged at Kingsthorpe Park, on the Warrego Highway, 20 kms west of Toowoomba, over three big days. More than 2,500 individual companies and organisations will be represented at FarmFest 2023. You’ll find them all… and more… at Queensland’s premier agricultural field days!
July 2023
Laidley Show 2023
- 8-9 July 2023
It’s show time! Enjoy a full weekend of horticulture, crafts, food and produce, animals, farm skills, and entertainment. Entry only $10 per adult, $6 for high school students, and primary school students and younger get in FREE! Visit the Laidley Show Society website for more information.
Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo 2023
- 28 – 30 July 2023
The Toowoomba Showgrounds will host the region’s largest outdoor adventure event showcasing Australia’s best caravans, camper trailers, vehicles, 4×4 accessories, and more all in the one convenient location. Take the whole family for a day full of fun including the All4FMX stunt show, 4×4 demo, bush cooking, kid’s rides, and more! Discover a world of adventure at the 2023 Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo.
September 2023
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2023
- 1 – 30 September 2023
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers attracts almost 300,000 people to Toowoomba annually. 2023 marks its 74th year, and as always it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the spring sunshine and meander through the city’s spectacular gardens and flower markets. The festival’s not just about the floral offerings though. It’s also an internationally acclaimed Toowoomba event that brings together the very best art, food, music, tours, and cultural events on offer into one spectacular festival, all set against the glorious backdrop of beautiful Toowoomba. Interested in all things Carnival of Flowers? We have more information here!
Murphys Creek Chilli Festival 2023
- 17 September 2023
The Murphys Creek Chilli Festival is original and best chilli festival in the west! Celebrate flavour and fire in the lovely Lockyer Valley at Queensland’s best charity chilli festival! Let the passionate stallholders ignite your senses and please your palate at the 8th sensational event.
October 2023
Celtic Festival of Queensland 2023
- 29 September – 1 October 2023
The Celtic Festival of Queensland is taking place an hour from Toowoomba in Warwick (fringe activities to be announced for Queensland so check back for more).
If you enjoy Celtic Music, Celtic Dancing, Celtic Stalls, Cabre Tossing, and much much more this is the event for you!
Toowoomba GEMFEST – Gems & Jewellery 2023
- 21-22 October 2023
GEMFEST – Gems & Jewellery is oriented to the whole family so take the kids along to enjoy a spot of fossicking! The Toowoomba Gemfest is considered one of the best 2-day shows in Queensland and is held on the second-last weekend in October every year.
Toowoomba International Street Fiesta 2023
- 28 October 2023
The Toowoomba International Street Fiesta (formerly Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival) is a free annual celebration to recognise the diversity in the Toowoomba community and showcase talents and colour from across the world. Held over one day, the fiesta is fun for all the family with international food trucks, stalls, performances from around the globe, rides, displays, and much more.
Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland 2023
- 2-24 December 2023
If you want to take your kids to a magical place to fully experience the wonder and excitement of Christmas, Toowoomba is again playing host to this magical Christmas spectacular, the Toowoomba Christmas Wonderland.
Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland is a family-friendly event held in the Botanic Gardens, Queens Park. The event operates from 7pm to 10pm each night from 2nd December 2023 up to, and including Christmas Eve. Enter by gold coin donation or ‘Tap & Go’ payment at each of the three entry points.
Enjoy the traditional Christmas lights display, as well as local and roving performers, raffles, BBQ and Christmas entertainment for the whole family. And if you love Christmas lights, check out our huge wrap up of the best Christmas lights displays around Toowoomba.
PREVIOUS TOOWOOMBA EVENTS
These events are yet to be confirmed for 2023. The post will be regularly updated as events are confirmed.
March 2022
The Chronicle Lifeline Bookfest 2022 TBC for 2023
- 5 March – 6 March 2022
For all those book lovers, The Chronicle Lifeline Bookfest is the perfect event for you to get some new reading material! There will be free admission, free parking and Eftpos available.
April 2022
Toowoomba Busking Festival TBC for 2023
- 30 April 2022
The Toowoomba Busking Festival is a FREE live music event you do not want to miss! Join in as Toowoomba’s central business district is filled with music, food, creativity and fun! Culminating in the busking competition finals held at Walton Stores Precinct, as buskers compete for large cash prizes and the people’s choice award.
May 2022
Toowoomba Dinosaur Festival TBC for 2023
The Dinosaur Festival will be held at Webb Park in Toowoomba. It is sure to impress those young (and young at heart) dinosaur lovers.
June 2022
Chrome & Clutter Retro Festival – Show ‘N’ Shine | Laidley – Cancelled in 2022 TBC for 2023
Get away from the big smoke for a weekend filled with entertainment, musical performances, market stalls, garage sales, and best of all – vintage and classic vehicles. The Chrome & Clutter Retro Festival is not quite in Toowoomba, but not too far away in Laidley. This event will resume in 2023.
July 2022
‘Red Thunder’ Brisbane Airshow TBC for 2023
- 10 July 2022
Red Thunder is the perfect event for the plane lovers! Dedicated to the men and women who have served in our armed forces. This show includes Warbirds, World War 2 Fighters, Jets, Helicopters, Aerobatic Displays, Skydiving, Military Vehicles, Hot Rod Cars, The Somerset Business Expo, Gourmet Food and Tasty Beverages.
October 2022
Australian Camp Oven Festival – Not running in 2023, next held 5-6 October 2024
- 1-2 October 2022
What started as a little friendly competition around the campfire has evolved to become one of Queensland’s flagship tourism events. Located in Millmerran (82km from Toowoomba), The Australian Camp Oven Festival was the brainchild of outback icons Gary Fogarty and Ned Winter.
Following modest beginnings in 1999, ACOF is now widely known as Australia’s most iconic camp oven festival. The quirky program celebrates authentic Aussie traditions including camp oven cooking, damper throwing, billy boiling, bush poetry, country music and bush heritage displays
Cully Fest TBC for 2023
The Cully Fest is a celebration of everything country to the city. It connects outback culture to tradition and history-making sure to incorporate Indigenous culture as a central part of our shared heritage.
Cully means friends and the goal is to inspire, entertain, and celebrate community! There are MANY attractions throughout the months of October and November to engage your entire family.
