Plan your next road trip around WA's best food festivals

By Vanessa Pogorelic

From the tropical produce of the north to the rich and earthy delights of the far south, WA punches above its weight when it comes to the sheer breadth of fresh produce on offer, which is showcased at one of the many annual food-based events around the state.

To help you navigate the West’s annual food festival trail, here’s a tasty breakdown of some foodie events to look out for on your travels, or to even plan your next road trip around.

1. Gascoyne Food Festival – 26 July to 31 August 2025

The Gascoyne Food Festival is one of WA’s largest regional culinary festivals, with events spanning Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay, Gascoyne Junction, and even further afield.

Often referred to as WA’s ‘food bowl,’ the region offers a smorgasbord of fresh produce, from seafood on the pristine coast to an array of tropical fruits, and produce from the region’s vast pastoral properties.

Expect multi-course dinners, including long-table dining, beachfront seafood feasts, a race day, cooking workshops, and open-air bush tucker cooking. Chef-prepared dishes and tastings are also complemented by local craft breweries and biodynamic wines.

While Perth is shivering through winter, the Gascoyne Food Festival is a welcome, sun-soaked escape from the cold.

2. Taste of the Kimberley, Kununurra – 15 to 17 August 2025

Over three days, the world-class produce of the Ord Valley region and those behind it will be on display in and around Kununurra at Taste of the Kimberley.

Farm tours will take you inside the region’s vast properties, growing everything from sorghum and sandalwood to chickpeas and melons.

On the Saturday night, spend an evening under an incredible blanket of stars in Kununurra’s iconic Picture Gardens feasting on local seasonal produce, then on Sunday kick back with local live music and enjoy bush-tucker-inspired canapés and tapas.

Beyond the festival, spend at least a few days exploring this unique corner of the Kimberley.

3. Pair'd, Margaret River Region – 20 to 23 November 2025

Described as Australia’s “chicest wine and food festival,” Pair’d is all about the fusion between good food and wine and is the region’s premier celebration of food, wine, and music.

Getting that mix just right will be an impressive lineup of chefs, winemakers, and other culinary artisans from WA and beyond, with backup from renowned musicians, DJs and sound artists.

Select from a huge range of events in venues and locations across the Margaret River region, including wineries, craft breweries, with dining experiences in the forest and even out on the water as well.

All events are ticketed and cater to a range of tastes and budgets.

The Pair’d shuttle bus services will also be available for transport to and from events.

4. Truffle Kerfuffle – (month TBC)

Since its inception in 2010, the Truffle Kerfuffle festival has brought well-deserved attention to Manjimup’s sought-after black truffle and highlighted the region’s other producers and tourism offerings.

In 2025, the Truffle Kerfuffle took a break to allow organisers time to reimagine and reinvigorate the long-running event. The plan is to bring it back in 2026 as a more sustainable and community-focused experience.

Over almost 15 years, the festival has celebrated the region’s rich agricultural heritage, spotlighting black truffles, local produce, and Southern Forests wines.

The festival typically features truffle hunts, long-table dinners, cooking masterclasses, and a bustling Festival Village at Fonty’s Pool. Despite the hiatus, the spirit of the event lives on through other experiences and events that continue to shine a light on Manjimup’s status as the heart of Australian truffle country. With fresh energy, the festival’s future looks promising. The 2025 break is seen as a chance to innovate and elevate the truffle celebration for years to come. So, stay tuned.

5. Mandurah Crab Fest – March 2026

Each year, the Crab Fest transforms Mandurah’s foreshore into a lively celebration of seafood. Drawing thousands of visitors, Crab Fest is one of the state’s biggest free events and showcases Mandurah’s iconic blue swimmer crab through gourmet food stalls, cooking demos by celebrity chefs, and hands-on crab-cracking workshops.

There’s also a music stage which features headline acts, live action sports events, a cooking stage where you can see many crab-based culinary treats come to life, and plenty of tasting stalls. The kids will be kept busy too, with rides, special exhibits, and roving entertainers.

Each year, a range of special ticketed events are also on offer to elevate your Crab Fest experience. Stay into the evening on the Saturday and you can also catch the spectacular fireworks display as it lights up the sky over the Mandurah foreshore. Travel by train to Mandurah and you can hop on one of the free shuttle buses running between the station and the festival grounds all weekend.

6. Shore Leave Festival – April 2026

For lovers of seafood, Shore Leave is one of WA’s premier food events. Held on the Geraldton foreshore, the Shore Leave Festival celebrates the incredibly diverse seafood on offer in the region along with the produce of the wider Mid West. Each year the event draws thousands of visitors with a mix of gourmet experiences, cultural events, and family-friendly activities. In the spotlight are western rock lobsters, Abrolhos octopus and scallops and many other ocean-fresh delicacies.

Signature events vary from year to year but include long-table lunches and paddock-to-plate dining experiences. You’ll see guest chefs creating an array of inspiring dishes, enjoy local markets, live music, marine tours, and watch stunning sunsets from Shore Leave’s beachside hub – the Helm.

While you’re there, it’s a great opportunity to explore even more of the Coral Coast, from the Abrolhos Islands to the underwater wonders of Ningaloo Reef.

7. Taste Great Southern – May 2026

In 2025, the Taste Great Southern festival launched a fresh new format and a four-day program that will see it remain one of WA’s key culinary events. For chefs and foodies alike there’s a lot to love in a region which is both agriculturally rich and blessed with a bounty of fresh seafood.

The annual festival shines a light on local produce and wines, with a packed program of curated experiences, including chef-led dinners, guided wine and food tours, farm-to-table feasts, and pop-up tastings.

Events take place in towns throughout the Great Southern, with Albany and Denmark as the main hubs, and interactive town takeovers in Mount Barker, Porongurup, Frankland River, and Katanning.

8. Slow Food and Wine Festival – May 2026

The Slow Food and Wine Festival invites you to slow down and truly savour the flavours of WA’s oldest wine-growing region – the Swan Valley.

The festival embraces the principles of the global Slow Food movement, which is working to preserve local food cultures from all over the world. The Swan Valley event specifically celebrates the diverse cultural heritage of this region through Noongar storytelling and the stories of the region’s Croatian and Italian settlers.

The Slow Food and Wine Festival is a ticketed event taking place across a full weekend in May, with an exclusive dinner event to launch the festival on the Friday night. Over the weekend there are workshops on ethical farming and sustainable viticulture and many opportunities to taste the best of the valley.

At each of the slow food and wine events, you’ll meet local winemakers, food artisans, and cultural storytellers, and enjoy tastings of Swan Valley dishes and wines that highlight the region’s diverse culinary traditions.

9. Bickley Harvest Festival – May 2026

Although it’s just 35 minutes from Perth, a trip to the Bickley Valley will make you feel like you’ve suddenly landed somewhere in the South West.

It’s worth a visit all year round, but in autumn especially, the valley is buzzing with long lunches, live music, special tastings, and artisan experiences during the Bickley Harvest Festival.

During the weekend of the festival, the valley’s many venues showcase their seasonal produce, handcrafted beverages, and artisan wares, and the festivities and activities continue right through May.

The valley packs in a surprising number of boutique wineries, cider houses, distilleries, restaurants, and galleries, including Fairbrossen, Carmel Cider, The Packing Shed Distilling Co, and New Leaf Gallery.

Most producers here are small-scale boutique businesses, so you’ll be treated to some unique offerings.

To help you get around over the festival weekend, there are regular shuttle buses that connect visitors to many of the venues.

Note: Where only the month is listed for an event, festival dates for 2026 have not yet been announced.