The National Cherry Festival is held each December in the town of Young, known as Australia’s Cherry Capital. This much-loved event marks the beginning of the cherry harvest and celebrates the region’s long connection to fruit growing. Visitors can enjoy everything from cherry pie-eating contests and street parades to live music, market stalls, and the famous cherry pip-spitting competition.
For more than 70 years, the festival has drawn crowds from across New South Wales to sample the sweetness of summer. The streets bloom with red as growers showcase their best produce and visitors join in the festivities. Join a vibrant community celebration that combines country charm, local flavour, and a dash of nostalgia. It’s perfect for travellers who enjoy culture, connection, and a little bit of fun!
Take the first step toward your next adventure—explore our tours or get a free brochure sent to your inbox.
Every summer, the National Cherry Festival turns the town of Young into a vibrant celebration of all things cherry. Visitors can try cherry-picking, join in the street markets, or cheer on competitors in the cherry pie-eating and pip-spitting contests. It’s a light-hearted and joyful way to experience the best of regional New South Wales.
Travellers exploring New South Wales and ACT destinations often time their visit to coincide with the festival, soaking up the community spirit and country charm. For over-50 travellers who’d like to see it all in comfort, Fun Over 50 Holidays’ National Cherry Festival tour combines this lively event with stunning scenic stops, local produce tastings, and a festive touch of luxury travel.
The three-day celebration takes place on the first weekend of December, when the cherry orchards are bursting with fruit and the town is at its most colourful. Visitors can expect early mornings filled with parades, markets, orchard tours, and afternoons of live entertainment and community festivities.
Young itself is compact and welcoming, making exploring on foot between festival events easy. The Young Visitor Information Centre, located in the beautifully restored railway station on Lovell Street, offers maps, local produce, and expert advice on nearby attractions.
Before or after the festival, wander the heritage walking trail, visit the Young Historical Museum, or stop by one of the area’s boutique wineries to sample its cool-climate wines. You can also stroll through the peaceful Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Gardens, a beautiful reminder of Young’s multicultural background.
Cherry season in Australia runs from late October to early February. The harvest begins in Queensland, moves through New South Wales and Victoria in November and December, and finishes in Tasmania by summer. The National Cherry Festival in Young marks the peak of the NSW cherry season, a highlight for active over 50s keen to experience a sweet harvest.
The town of Young, in the Hilltops region of New South Wales, is known as Australia’s Cherry Capital. The area’s cool climate and rich soil make it ideal for growing premium cherries, celebrated each year during the National Cherry Festival.
The National Cherry Festival is held in the rural town of Young, NSW, about four hours from Sydney. Events take place throughout the town centre, including Carrington Park, Boorowa Street, and local orchards that are open to the public for cherry picking.
The National Cherry Festival bursts with colour and energy, featuring cherry picking, live music, parades, and market stalls. Active over 50s can join the excitement of cherry pie-eating and pip-spitting contests, enjoy fireworks in the summer sky, and experience the region’s country hospitality and harvest.
The festival usually takes place on the first weekend of December, coinciding with the height of the cherry harvest. Visitors can confirm annual dates and schedules on the official NSW Government events page.
Our team is always happy to help if you have any questions about us or our tours. Fill out our form and we will get back to you soon.
.avif)
We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
Powered by EngineRoom
Fill out your details and we will get in touch with you to reserve your place on the tour.
We roll out the red carpet so you can just sit back and relax and know that everything is included in your holiday experience, no surprises, all inclusive!
More on tour inclusions
.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
%20-%20Wentworth.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
-min.avif)
