Dorrigo: Markets, Music and Art

For a trip to Dorrigo, recurring events can provide the occasion: offerings range from an acoustic folk and bluegrass weekend to markets, an art exhibition and Dorrigo Show competitions. The Skywalk lookout is also in the area. These events differ in their content and timing. So if you’re looking for a hotel in Dorrigo, it’s helpful to first choose the activity you want to shape your stay around, then check its dates.

Music and festivals

The Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival is an acoustic weekend featuring concerts, workshops, group music sessions and dancing. It’s family-friendly and welcomes people of all ages to take part. This means it includes both activities for listening and opportunities to join in musically: concerts, workshops, group sessions and dancing appeal to different interests, but are all part of the same festival. The festival takes place in Dorrigo every year on the last full weekend in October. Before your trip, check the specific event dates to ensure your stay coincides with your planned festival visit.

Markets and local produce

The Dorrigo Markets follow a different schedule: they take place on the first Saturday of each month at the Dorrigo Showground. This is helpful for an initial sense of timing, but you should still check the specific date before departure. The markets offer home-grown and homemade foods, environmentally friendly goods and clothing. What’s on offer may vary, so don’t count on any particular products being available. The Made in Dorrigo market showcases products made locally on the plateau. For your decision, this means there’s a difference between the specific product categories mentioned for the Dorrigo Markets and Made in Dorrigo’s focus on local production.

Art, competitions and entertainment

The art and event formats cater to two different interests. The Dorrigo Show Fine Arts Exhibition is an annual art exhibition in Dorrigo. The Dorrigo Show appeals to other interests: it includes competitions for cattle, produce, baking and photography, and offers entertainment by day and night. You can therefore choose your visit based on whether you’re interested in an art exhibition or in the Show’s competitions and entertainment.

The Skywalk lookout near Dorrigo

Another outing option near Dorrigo is the Skywalk lookout. Its 70 m-long boardwalk runs about 21 m above the rainforest at the edge of the escarpment. If you’d like to include the Skywalk in your stay, take its location into account and check the current access conditions before visiting; these may change.

The difference in timing is particularly relevant when planning your trip: the Dorrigo Markets take place monthly on the first Saturday, the Folk & Bluegrass Festival takes place on a weekend in October each year, and the Fine Arts Exhibition is also held annually. First choose the type of event, then match its specific date to your travel period.

Discover more destinations: Cobbitty, Lake Innes, Smiggin Holes, Thurgoona, Chullora, Wisemans Ferry, Kulnura, Broken Hill

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.