Armidale Autumn Festival

The Armidale Autumn Festival returns for a vibrant, community‑wide celebration of colour, creativity and local culture. From dawn to dusk, Civic Park and the Armidale CBD will come alive with immersive experiences, entertainment, heritage demonstrations and family activities.

Start your day with a sunrise spectacle: from 5:30am, Patricia Piccinini’s Skywhales rise over the CBD as part of their national tour.

Then keep the momentum rolling:
7:00am — Breakfast with the Band
Morning — Campus to City Canter from UNE to the CBD
11:00am — Markets + food stalls take over Civic Park with local produce, artisan goods and market favourites
11:40am — Look up! Paul Bennett’s first flyover kicks off the afternoon energy
12:00pm — The iconic Autumn Festival Parade fills the streets with colour and creativity (and don’t forget the best float takes home $1000 in prize money)
1:00pm — Kids Zone in Civic Park (activities, rides + entertainment)
2:00pm — Sheep Dog Trials + the New England heritage zone (a brand-new 2026 highlight with vintage machinery and “lost-trade” demos)
2:00pm — Paul Bennett returns to close out the day with high-energy aerobatics

New for 2026: a heritage-focused zone celebrating craftsmanship and rural traditions — bringing “old skills, new thrills” right into the heart of the festival.

Bring your mates, bring the kids, bring everyone — Autumn Festival has something for all ages!