Welcome to Tumbafest!
What you’ve never heard of Tumbafest???
Well read on dear friends…..
I have compiled a rough step by step guide to enjoying yourself at this wonderful weekend festival of music, food and wine in our little town of Tumbarumba, nestled in the hills of southern NSW Australia. You can thank me later!
Step 1:
Find out everything you can about the delightful town of Tumbarumba.
Note: search my blog for Tumbarumba, or the roll off your tongue poetical phrase, Tumba- bloody-Rumba, and some real gems will pop up!
Or you can just do a google search and see what you find! (It won’t be nearly as interesting as my personal anecdotes though – you were warned π
Step 2:
Put aside the last weekend in February for the foreseeable future so that you don’t double book yourself. You don’t want to miss out on this experience! This has been on the calendar every year since 1997!
Step 3:
Buy your ticket on line so you get the early bird price – for about $60 (at the time of writing) you can have a weekend ticket to see all the bands during the weekend and experience the atmosphere on offer. Follow Tumbafest on Facebook so you keep to date with all the arrangements or visit their site www.tumbafest.com.au
Step 4:
Arrive in town on the Friday afternoon ready for a big weekend. Grab a hat, sunscreen, money, comfy chair, picnic rug and your dancing shoes. It’s also good to organise some friends to spend the weekend with, but if no friends are available just make some new ones in town, we’re a friendly bunch.
Step 5:
Get in early on Saturday morning, assess the sun’s trajectory for the day and select a table and/or chairs in a good location taking into account the prevailing weather forecast. Look at where the shade will be later in the day and be prepared to move as the day warms up. Don’t leave your spot unattended, if possible, as it will be snavelled up by someone else very quickly. Especially if shade is on offer!
Step 6:
Check out the market stalls and food stalls in the music breaks so you don’t miss any of the on-stage action.
Step 7:
Sit back and relax taking in the wonderful bands that are scheduled throughout the day. It’s a good idea to peruse the program for the weekend in advance so you know which bands you are excited to see and which ones you can miss by going to the toilet or catching up with friends.
Step 8 :
Periodically throughout the day launch yourself from your comfy position to taste-test some of the excellent local wines available in the Wine Courtyard, buy some yummy food in the Food Alley, take in a cooking demonstration or visit the Beer Tent (what I call ‘running the gauntlet’).
Step 9:
If you’ve brought your children or grandchildren along, there are so many activities for kids to do. It’s great value as kids are free to enter the festival. They can have their face painted for free, play in the sandpit in the Kid’s Corner, ride their scooters or skateboards around on the skate park, ride around the pump track and catch up with all their little friends in a safe environment. They will find you if they need you!
Step 10:
Remember to drink copious amounts of water throughout the day and reapply sunscreen as it gets quite warm. Wine and beer don’t count as fluids so you need to add some water into the mix to keep yourself upright. Security has been known to throw out those who have over imbibed. Don’t even consider setting up your table and chairs in the middle of the creek (despite how hot you might get), the organisers take a dim view of this behaviour. The Duck Race is the only activity allowed in the creek.
Step 11:
If the music makes you feel like dancing then get up and join the others on the grassy dance floor. It’s a mosh pit full of fun people just like you, all singing along to the great music being played up on the back of the truck (aka the stage).
Step 12:
Note this option isn’t available in 2022 due to Covid putting a stop to the Kokoda adventures for the time being.
Do not leave without sampling a delicious pancake with blueberry sauce and ice-cream lovingly cooked by the Tumbarumba 2 Kokoda students. Β It’s a fundraiser for the group’s trek to Kokoda in April every second year and manned by students, leaders and parents. (I am declaring my pecuniary interest here as my husband is one of the Kokoda leaders and cooks a mean pancake π )




Sunday
Repeat Saturday’s steps but if you have over indulged the night before just lie down on the crunchy grass and have a little rest – you’re among friends!

Optional extras:
Get together with your mates beforehand and arrange a fancy dress theme for the weekend. We’ve had pixies, groups in matching surf shirts, grown men in lederhosen, gladiators, vikings and other variations on the dress up theme. It’s all about the fun.
Tumbafest has been running since 1997 and I am proud to say that I have been to almost every event since its inception. I have volunteered, along with other community minded people, been on the committee in previous years, but these days they have a paid organiser. Helpful and friendly volunteers still do much of the hard work in getting it up and running. Make sure you say thank you if you see them wandering around in their special shirts.
Our town may be small but we know how to party and have fun – we also produce top quality cool climate, award winning wines! Given the recent bushfire catastrophe in our area we need all the help we can to get back on track, so consider #HolidayHereThisYear and bring your #EmptyEsky #bushfirerevoery
See you at Tumbafest π
Here are some happy snaps at Tumbafest in previous years.
Deb π
Please note this post was first written in 2017 but was updated for Tumbafest 2020 and the 25th birthday event in 2022..

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Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a menβs correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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What an awesome write up Deb. I think you should be the official spokesperson for the event. If Tumba was just a bit closer and we didn’t already have plans, I’d come up for the weekend! π
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Thanks Miriam, your comment is kind ch appreciated. I have shared it on their Facebook page and I’m sure they know where to find me π if they want me to act as spokesperson!! As we’ve just had this year’s festival, put it into your diary for next year!! We’d love to have you visit.
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You just never know! π
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Great write-up Deb, wish I could have been there. Looks as if the weather was good too.
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Thanks, weather was perfect and yes it’s a shame you couldn’t be here to enjoy it all. Maybe next year.
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I’m in Brisbane and I’ve heard of Tumbarumba! Sounds like a fun weekend for the whole family! Found your blog at Blog Share Learn. Have great week! Sue from SizzlingTowards 60 & Beyond.
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Thanks so much Sue! It’s a lovely small town but we know how to have fun too. I’m also a part of your fab Facebook group!! Small world isn’t it?
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Yes I just made the connection on Facebook! It is a small world. Have a beautiful week Deb x I will be following you now i know you .
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Thanks Sue, much appreciated!
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Deb your commentary is just spot on. If you haven’t been book in for next year and then you will be hooked isn’t that right Deb?
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Exactly right Allison! Thanks for your comment and sharing my post on Facebook π It was such fun!
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Looks like a good time for all.
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A fantastic weekend!! Thanks for visiting.
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Looks like a fun time Deb. You two show the fun too.
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Thanks very much, it certainly was a fun weekend.
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Tiumbafest sounds and looks like a fun event.
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Yes Marian, it was a fun affair all round! Every year it gets better and better too.
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Have a good one! Denyse
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It should be a lot of fun Denyse!
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It looks such good fun – if only it were a little closer to where I live π
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Yes I know what you mean Deb. I will enjoy it in your behalf π
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I want to come!! It’s our wedding anniversary weekend so one of these years we’ll have to make it celebration destination. But you left off number #13 Have a cuppa with Deb in her glass sunroom – that’s first and last on my list β€
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Great addition to the list Leanne. One day!!
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I so wish I was there. My aunt and uncle and other family are heading down and I’m more than a tad jelly!
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It was a great weekend Jo, youβll have to come one year!!
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I certainly will have to.
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Tumbafest! I remember my Dad working there for an extended period when I was a kid and going to stay in a caravan park to visit him. Such a cute town. Best part is the name. Tumba-bloody-rumba. lol. L
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Really, that’s great to hear you know of Tumbarumba Leanne! I love the whole Tumba-bloody-rumba thing and in some ways we’ve moved on from that image but in others not so much π
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It sounds like so much fun! Thanks for the tips.
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My pleasure Kate π
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