For lovers of vibrant, seasonal food and drink, creative minds, and seekers of life’s simple pleasures, the much-anticipated Meet the Makers South Coast Festival has released its full program, brimming with more than 35 culinary adventures and unique hands-on experiences.
Held every weekend throughout September in and around Milton on NSW’s South Coast, Meet the Makers offers visitors the chance to eat, drink, and create with the region’s most talented and passionate chefs, artisans and providores.
The festival kicks off with a sumptuous afternoon event at picturesque Barn on the Ridge with a collaboration of more than 10 makers offering canape stations, a long lunch, decadent dessert bar, wine tastings, live music and a resident artist.
Other highlights include a hands-on wine blending workshop and lunch at Cupitt’s Estate Winery; a brewery dining experience with Dangerous Ales at Milton Hotel; a Gwylo long lunch infused with native bush foods; Sea + Soil, a seafood and artisan pasta lunch at Bannisters; A Taste of Lebanon at Nomad; and Fire and Feast at local favourite Milk HAUS’s rustic on-site garden-to-plate restaurant.
For those keen to roll up their sleeves, artisan workshops range from bread, beer and croissant masterclasses to floral art, skincare, ceramics, and painting.
There’s also Walk on the Wild Side: Mushroom Edition, a guided foraging walk with local fungi enthusiast Marita, revealing the fascinating world of native mushrooms.
The month-long festival concludes in style with the South Coast Craft Beer Festival at Milton Showground, a lively celebration of the region’s celebrated and thriving brewing community.
Meet the Makers South Coast Festival was designed to delight the senses, spark creativity, and nourish the soul according to Milk HAUS co-owner and chef Nat Taylor.
“Meet the Makers is so much more than a food festival. It’s an invitation to connect with the people who shape the South Coast’s culinary and creative identity.
“It’s about stories, skills, flavours, and the shared joy of creating something beautiful, whether that’s a loaf of sourdough, a hand-thrown ceramic mug, or enjoying a perfect countryside long lunch with friends,” said Taylor.
Official accommodation partner Bannisters offers the perfect base to unwind after a day of inspiration, with its two iconic coastal properties, Bannisters by the Sea and Bannisters Pavilion, celebrated for understated luxury, acclaimed dining, and relaxed ocean views.
Meet the Makers South Coast Festival runs every weekend from Saturday 6 September to Sunday 28 September 2025.
