Agfest

When is Agfest 2023

Agfest 2023 will be held on Friday, 5 May in Tasmania

Agfest 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Agfest FAQs

Is Agfest a public holiday?

Each year Agfest begins on the first Thursday in May and lasts for 3 days, but the official public holiday is on the next day, Friday.

History of Agfest

Agfest is an annual event that has been taking place since 1983. It is now held over the three days beginning with the first Thursday in May, and features a variety of amazing activities. 

The Agfest organisers, the Rural Youth Organisation (RYO) is a group of people aged 15-30 who meet to socialise and develop relationships with other RYO groups from around the world.

There are about 350 members of the RYO in Tasmania, and a committee of thirty members puts together Agfest each year.

The committee decides things like the type of activities that will be held, the entertainment, and the number of stalls.

Agfest is a fun way to learn new skills, make new friends, and experience different cultures. The event has grown over the years, with more than 10,000 people attending in 2017.

At Agfest there are lots of activities to do, including competitions, cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, live music and dance performances.

There are also market stalls selling handmade items, food, and other crafts.

The event is designed to promote agriculture and rural life, and to give young people an opportunity to learn about farming and other aspects of life in rural areas.

Agfest is a great way to get out of the city, meet new people, and enjoy some fresh country air.

COVID-19 impact

In 2020, the annual 3 day physical Agfest was cancelled due to COVID 19. In its place, a 3-week online event called ‘Agfest 2020 in the Cloud’ ran from 7-28 May.

This event received 1 million page views and 45 thousand unique visitors. The grant from the Tasmanian Government helped finance it.

Agfest 2021 included both physical events over 4 days (5–8 May), and an online component (8–15 May). 

COVID safety rules, an altered site layout and other steps were planned to help keep patrons safe. Tickets were only pre-sold online to allow contact tracing.The funds raised by Agfest go to improving the show site, developing RYO and helping support the activities that benefit Tasmania’s youth.

How to Celebrate Agfest 2023

Attend Agfest

Agfest is one of the biggest field days in Australia and, as its name suggests, the events are centred on agriculture and related industries. Here are just a few:

• Sheep Dog Trials
• Equine Expo
• The Peter Brock Memorial Four Wheel Drive Track
• Heritage Display
• Unique Tastes of Foods Sampling
• Dairy Feature
• Craft Pavilions

Free parking is available for everyone and free shuttle buses are available from the Forster Street entrance to York Park in Launceston and other places en route.

Agfest is the perfect place to enjoy everything agriculture has to offer! 

Whether you’re in the market for new equipment, a new car, or just want to see what’s new in the industry, Agfest has something for you.

If you’re interested in history and where agriculture began, the Heritage Display is perfect for you. 

For beautiful presents, head over to the Craft Pavilions and check out some of Tasmania’s best handmade crafts.

And when you need a break from all the excitement, stop by one of our Quercus Tastes food areas and enjoy some delicious Tasmanian produce! 

You’re sure to enjoy the unique food sampling booths!

Agfest Shows

There’s plenty of entertainment at Agfest with live music, roving performers and other activities to keep the whole family entertained.

Don’t forget to check out the Livestock Pavilion, where you can see bovine, ovine, poultry and equine animals up close and personal.

And don’t forget about the Show Arena, where you can watch some of Tasmania’s best livestock show off their skills! Come and see some professionals showcase the talents of some amazing animals!

Come to the 4WD Track for some excitement! Terrain Tamar will be showcasing their V8 Landcruiser, and Tassie 4×4 will be bringing up their four-wheel drive vehicles to show off their capabilities.

Can they beat the track in a race? Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

There’s also a Boat Show, displaying the latest and greatest in maritime technology and a climbing Tower.

Here guests can get some exercise and enjoy a great view over the entire Agfest grounds and the surrounding area!

Agfest is a great place to come for a day or two, with something for everyone. Come join us and experience all that Agfest has to offer!

Explore Launceston

The town of Launceston is a mere 15 minute drive away from the Agfest grounds and free shuttle buses will also take anyone from the grounds to York Park in the heart of Launceston!

There’s so many amazing things to see in Launceston and the 3-day Agfest celebration gives you the perfect amount of time to see them and the festival as well!

You can stop by the Art Gallery at Royal Park to see the free exhibits, including an exhibit on young Tasmanian artists and old traditional artists.

There’s also Aboriginal Tasmanian art and a model Chinese temple that displays religious practices at the temple.

You can also stop by the free Museum at Inveresk just across the river, which hosts several exhibitions including:

A ceramics exhibition, a dinosaur and prehistoric geology section, an exhibit on the Tasmanian Tiger and the history of the railway in Tasmania.

There’s also an exhibit on the history of aviation and astronomy in Tasmania and a blacksmithing section, showing the history of metalworking in the state.

And for an affordable price, you can see the Museum’s Planetarium, which features a planetarium show projecting the night sky and a live guided tour of the stars!

While you’re in Launceston, also make sure to check out the City Park. Rated as one of the top 10 parks in all of Australia, it includes several gardens, war memorials and a monkey enclosure!

It’s a perfect place for a relaxing walk or picnic, and the temperature during Agfest will be excellent! Come to the park to take a break from the festivities and see the sights around the city!

If you have any ideas for celebrating Agfest in 2023, we’d love to hear more, so feel free to post in the comments below! 

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