Rain, mud and cancellations: What’s next for Northern Rivers festivals?

WHAT is the future of festivals in the Northern Rivers? That’s the question many are asking following the sudden cancellation of the Byron Bay Writers Festival’s weekend events after heavy rain caused power outages and turned the Bangalow Showground into a mud pit.

Festival organisers were busy cleaning up and reaching out to ticketholders this week offering refunds. But as the scenario wasn’t covered by the event’s insurance, they also asked those in a position to do so to donate their ticket costs or seek only a partial refund.

“As those who live in the Northern Rivers are acutely aware, insurance access and affordability is a major issue for outdoor festivals and small arts organisations,” the festival team said in a statement.

Despite challenging conditions, all of Friday’s sessions went ahead, including three appearances by UK-based author Esther Freud and a Q&A with former foreign correspondent Peter Greste. Feature and satellite events also proceeded, such as an in-conversation event with celebrated Australian novelist Helen Garner and local journalist Kerry O’Brien.

 

On Saturday, several authors held book signings at The Book Room in Byron Bay, and on Sunday some live sessions were relocated to the Bangalow A&I Hall. These included appearances by Tom Keneally, Barry Jones and Ziggy Ramo.

The cancellation comes as more bad news hit the region’s events scene: on Monday, it was announced that Northern Rivers Food has gone into administration. Torrential rain had also impacted its annual Harvest Food Trail in May.

The month-long event, which showcased farm tours, cooking demonstrations and regional dining experiences, was a flagship for the not-for-profit member-based organisation. Founded in 2011 by Brook Farm’s Pam Brook, Northern Rivers Food helped connect people across the local food and beverage industry through networking events, workshops and other initiatives.

Northern Rivers Food chair Mark Awad said the wet weather and broader economic climate pushed the group over the edge.

“Unfortunately, the Harvest event this year coincided with the start of a very wet autumn, then also the election which we couldn’t have forecast and that affected the turnout,” he said. “In combination with the economic times we didn’t get the support that we usually do for the event.

“We had really worked to change the format this year to make it bigger and better and unfortunately that meant spending more money and without the support from the community it put Northern Rivers Food in an unsustainable position.”

Mr Awad, who is also managing director of Winding Road Distilling Co. in Tintenbar, said he felt for the organisers of the Byron Writers Festival when he heard the news of the cancellation.

“It would have been a very difficult decision for the organisers and I don’t envy them that,” he said. “I think they would have been doing the best they possibly could to manage a bunch of competing issues in a short time frame. It’s the way the year has gone and it’s really unfortunate because we’re getting to the day of the event or even after events have launched and they are adversely affected by weather and there’s really nothing you can do about it. We have to adapt and move forward, but sometimes adapting and moving forward is not possible.”

Despite the setbacks, Mr Awad said he was an optimist.

“There still is a lot of passion,” he said. “I think it’s just a setback and the Northern Rivers food community will as a whole come back bigger, better and stronger.”

 

 

Weather woes have hit several high-profile festivals in the region over recent years. Splendour in the Grass, held in the North Byron Parklands, was heavily impacted by rain in 2022. Its first day was cancelled due to flooding and muddy conditions that turned campsites and pathways into muddy swamps.”

Bluesfest also suffered due to flash flooding that year, with vehicles bogged and luxury “glamping” tents needing replacement. Similar issues plagued the 2024 event. While its founder Peter Noble had originally announced 2025 would be the last Bluesfest, strong community support has led to a commitment to return again in 2026.

 

 

Bangalow Film Festival has also faced repeated challenges. Founder Christian Pazzaglia said the event has been cancelled or postponed three times in five years — first due to COVID-19, then the 2022 floods, and most recently, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“We were using the showgrounds in 2021 and we were lucky with four days of sun and then in 2022 we were going back to the showground when the floods came,” he said. “In 2023 we had so many meetings figuring out the opportunity versus the risk of using the showgrounds and being outside and the weather. It was too risky, so we decided to consolidate indoors at the A&I Hall rather than risking losing a lot of money… and then we still got the cyclone. We had to postpone the event two days from the start, and it’s hard to recover from that.”

Pazzaglia said putting on festivals involves immense effort — and difficult decisions.

“The event goes on and people show up and we have a great time and it refreshes you and reminds you why you do it – to give something back to the community and bring people together to enjoy,” he said. “You try to erase the bad memories and move on with the good vibes. It’s a beautiful experience when it works.”