Popular foodie festivals and markets
Updated 5 Sep 2024
Canberra’s best festivals and markets for food lovers
Get a taste of the Canberra region at our foodie festivals throughout the year including annual celebrations and wine festivals. In addition to fresh produce markets in Fyshwick and Belconnen, you can visit farmers markets each weekend and meet the growers and makers.
Canberra Region Farmers Market
The largest farmers market held in the Southern Tablelands, the Capital Region Farmers Market is a local favourite and Saturday morning staple in Canberra. More than 100 stallholders sell everything from honey to vegetables and nitrate free bacon at Exhibition Park each weekend. Come early to snag a loaded bagel, enjoy some live music, and take some of the regions’ best produce home with you. A great spot for breakfast too.
Haig Park Markets
An inner-city leafy park boasts one of Canberra’s newest weekend markets, Haig Park Village Markets. This convenient Braddon location pulls crowds each Sunday morning and sells fresh market produce alongside flowers, coffee, and locally made wares. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a picnic whilst feasting your senses on the culinary delights on offer, before wandering your way into the humming streets of Braddon.
Southside Farmers Market
Locals south of the lake flock to Canberra College in Phillip where producers from the region sell their goods on a Sunday morning at the Southside Farmers Market. Grab a coffee and bite to eat while you’re there browsing stalls of organic produce or enjoying the entertainment from a busker. It’s the perfect way to spend your Sunday morning in Canberra feeling like a local.
Old Bus Depot Markets
The iconic Old Bus Depot Markets, held each Sunday, showcase the best local produce, artisan baked goods, and beautiful handmade items. Grab breakfast or lunch at the market before heading next door to the Canberra Glassworks and exploring the rest of Kingston and the foreshore’s boutiques, book shops, and cornucopia of restaurants and cafés.
The Little Burley Market
The Little Burley Market is a Saturday morning market by the waterside. This beautifully curated gourmet food and artisan market will have you enjoying the magnificent views of Lake Burley Griffin and relaxing by the water's edge whilst you delve into something tantalising. Conveniently located near many national attractions, it's the perfect spot to unwind and indulge while immersing yourself in the charm of the surroundings.
Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets and Capital Food Market
Whether you stay North or South side, Canberra has fresh food options for either location. Thursday – Sunday you can find whatever you’re looking for at Canberra’s oldest markets, the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets. With over 25 specialty shops, including fruit and vegetable shops, butchers, delicatessens, bakeries, cafes, seafood shops, the freshest of everything can be found in Fyshwick.
The Belconnen Fresh Food Markets were once home to over 20 of Canberra’s finest food providores. After more than 40 years supporting local businesses, farmers, and serving the Canberra community, the market has a new lease on life reopening as Capital Food Market in 2023. The new market showcases leading fresh food providers, while offering visitors an exciting new dining outlets to be enjoyed all year round.
Handmade Markets
The Handmade Markets are a quarterly market and bring together 260+ small Australian designers and producers into Canberra. After you’ve filled your cart brimming with fashion, ceramics, artworks, accessories and more, make your way to the indoor gourmet food and wine pavilion to recharge and enjoy a bite of something new.
Canberra District Wine events
Canberra District Wine Region events
Home to 140 vineyards and more than 40 wineries within 35 minutes’ drive of the city centre, the Canberra District Wine Region is sure to have your new favourite sip tucked away in its vines. Find your new favourite drop as you visit cellar doors, meet the makers, and even stay overnight at one of Canberra’s well-known wineries.
From dinners paired with local wine to cabaret shows, art classes and moving feasts, be sure to check out what’s happening on the Canberra District Wine Industry Association’s website to stay in-the-know of what’s coming up in their dazzling calendar of year-round events.
Truffle Season
It’s no secret that the Canberra region’s climate is perfect for growing black gold in the form of truffles. Held annually from June through August, Truffle Season in Canberra celebrates the Black Perigord Truffles grown in the region with everything from truffle hunts, degustation dinners, tastings and cooking demonstrations, taking place all across the season’s cooler months.
National Multicultural Festival
Known as ‘Multi Culti’ by the locals, this three day food and cultural extravaganza celebrates more than 170 multicultural communities each February. Stallholders sell their national dishes and specialities, with multicultural groups putting on a range of performances across multiple stages, at various locations across the city centre. An explosion of tastes, sights, and sounds that’s not to be missed and sure to please.
Upcoming markets
Uncover more dining options
Each meal will be more delicious than the last with this guide to everything from the best brunch spots and hatted restaurants through to popular pub grub and vegetarian eats.
