The 5 best events in NSW this January

Summer is in full swing across NSW, so make sure you get out there and soak up some ongoing festival cheer this January. From the offbeat to the monumental, there’s plenty to explore and discover as 2016 gets well and truly underway.

Tumbarumba Rodeo, Tumbarumba 1 January

Tumbarumba Rodeo. Image credit: David Ethell Rodeo Photos

Held every year on New Year’s Day, the Tumbarumba Rodeo has now been running for 71 years. The event takes place at the Tumbarumba Showground in the Snowy Mountains and is a fun-filled day out and includes bucking ponies, a stallion chute out, a pony saddle ride and a bull ride featuring the big ScreenBull cam. And of course a full APRA (Australian Professional Rodeo Association) Championship Rodeo. There are also bar facilities and live entertainment all afternoon and evening.

Parkes Elvis Festival, Parkes 6 – 10 January

Parkes Elvis Festival Parade 2014, Central NSW

Feeling all shook up? Join more than 10,000 Elvis fans, impersonators and lovers of all things rockabilly as they travel to Parkes for the annual Elvis Festival. With 5 days of non-stop entertainment, the ‘Elvis capital of Australia’ features a series of concerts, the Elvis Gospel Service, a street parade, non-stop free entertainment in Cooke Park, the Miss Priscilla Dinner, Poets’ Breakfast, busking and dancing. The festival gets bigger and more popular every year, so make sure you book your accommodation as soon as you can.

Archibald Prize Regional Tour, Armidale, until 10 January

Archibald Prize Regional Tour, Armidale

The Archibald Prize, first awarded in 1921, is Australia’s most popular art award, and one of its most prestigious. Awarded to the best portrait each year, the subjects of the Archibald are a fascinating take on the ‘who’s who’ of Aussie culture. The exhibition is on show at the New England Regional Art Museum until January 10, which also includes significant works by Australian and international artists such as Streeton, Roberts, Gruner, Preston, Whiteley, Gleeson, Tuckson and Christo.

Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth 15 – 24 January

Opening Tamworth Music Festival Concert Crowd at Toyota Park, Credit Tamworth Regional Council

The largest music festival in the Southern Hemisphere celebrates all things country each January in Tamworth. The opening night concert in Toyota Park kicks off ten nights of free concerts. The finale of the festival is the Toyota Golden Guitars – Country Music Awards of Australia. Now in their 44th year, they are the most significant country music awards in Australia. Each year, around 50,000 visitors attend the festival each day, with over 700 artists featured in 2,800 scheduled events across 80 venues.

Australia Day, 26 January

Australia Day

Celebrate Australia’s national day in NSW, with local celebrations, official ceremonies and lots of fun for the whole family. Wherever you’re planning to travel over January, there’s bound to be something happening on Australia Day. If you’re in Wollongong, check out Oz Day in the Gong, the town’s biggest annual event with the Illawarra Aquathon, live entertainment, market stalls, rides and a spectacular fireworks display over Wollongong harbour. Newcastle also puts on quite a show, with the Newcastle Maritime Festival, a 2 day festival taking place on January 25 and 26 including live music and an epic fireworks display.

There’s plenty to see and do in NSW this January!