South Australians have every reason to celebrate, with a long weekend ahead and regional events in full swing.
A month-long festival kicks off today in the Limestone Coast, as Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations returns for 2020. The largest festival of its kind in the region, it boasts a program of over 60 events across five weeks, showcasing the wine region's signature red wine, cabernet sauvignon.
Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations is supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission, through its Regional Events & Festivals Program, which provides financial and marketing assistance to events that generate an increase in visitation to the state's regions.
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said it was fantastic to see one of the Limestone Coast's major events back on the 2020 calendar.
"Following a series of postponements earlier in the year, event organisers across the state have had the challenging task of reimagining their events and festivals to bring them back in a COVID-safe way," said Mr Harrex.
"The return of Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations is not only a coup for event organisers but an absolute win for the Limestone Coast, to help drive visitation to the region not just this long weekend and school holidays, but all of October."
"With plenty of accommodation providers in the Limestone Coast now signed up to be part of the SATC's Great State voucher scheme, it's brilliant timing for any South Australian heading to the festival to make their regional visit, a staycation."
Like many events scheduled for 2020, the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations program has been adapted to ensure that capacity limits and other COVID restrictions can be safely managed. Organisers are strongly recommending eventgoers book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Later this month, the Riverland Wine and Food Festival returns to the region but in a modified format to comply with COVID-safe practices. Usually held as one large party on the riverbank, this year's Riverland Wine and Food Festival will be hosted across several venues, at wineries, distilleries, breweries and producers, to offer a series of events from Berri to Barmera over the weekend from 16-18 October.
The Riverland Wine and Food Festival showcases the region's food, wine and produce, and is another regional event supported by the SATC through its Regional Events & Festivals Program. Bookings are strongly encouraged.
For details and event programs, see:
- Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations - 1-31 October
- Riverland Wine and Food Festival - 16-18 October.
