Revel Is the New Four-Day Food and Culture Festival Taking Over Byron Bay This Spring

If you're always on the lookout for a reason to escape to Byron Bay, here's the latest: a brand-new festival that'll have you eating, drinking, checking out art, listening to tunes and being merry, all in the seaside New South Wales spot. That's what's on the agenda at Revel Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival, which has just announced the dates for its inaugural event — and given potential attendees a glimpse at what's in store.

First, block out the four days between Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 13 in your calendar, which is when Revel will make its debut. As for what's on the program, the precise details haven't been revealed as yet, but it'll cover cuisine, drinks, music, art and culture.

Think: long lunches, twilight soirees and moseying around public art installations, plus hitting up performances, taking health and wellness classes, shopping around a produce market and enjoying tours. The fest will also include panel discussions and workshops, and not only take place in Byron but across the Northern Rivers region.

Chef David Moyle, who has been Chief of Food at Harvest Newrybar since 2020, is Revel's Festival Food Curator — and explains that the fest aims to "bring people back together to enjoy the company of friends and family with good food and good vibes in a beautiful setting".

That'll come courtesy of the Revel Festival Village, aka a massive food, beverage, music and art precinct that's set to sprawl across the whole North Byron Hotel in the Byron Arts and Industrial Estate, and thanks to events at plenty of other spots around the area. On the list: Harvest, of course, as well as Raes on Wategos, Three Blue Ducks, Belongil Beach Italian Food, Bang Bang Byron Bay, Barrio, Capiche, The Hut, The Roadhouse, Treehouse on Belongil, and Mosey on Inn group's Ciao Mate!, The Eltham and You Beauty.

Given the location, there'll be a beachside program within the larger program with views of Byron Bay Main Beach — including the fest's opening event — on the Thursday and Friday, as well as a secret Revel garden precinct operating on the Saturday and Sunday.

And, while exactly what the arts and cultural side of the lineup will entail hasn't been unveiled, helping advise on that part of proceedings are Arakwal Bundjalung woman Delta Kay, plus artists Paul McNeil and Karlee Mackie.

"As we all know, the hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic along with tourism, arts and music, and these are all industries that Byron Shire support in a large way for a regional place," said Revel Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival Founder and Director Alex Taylor, announcing the fest's dates.

"Byron Bay is an incredible hub of creative talent and entrepreneurs, and we wanted to create something that would support all these industries as well as the wider community that has struggled to connect over the last couple of years," added Revel co-Festival Director Jonny Ruddy.

Revel Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival will run from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 13 at various locations around Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers region. For more information, head to the festival's website.

Images: Jess Kearney.