The much-loved Cessnock Stomp Festival has been officially cancelled.
A signature event for both locals and visitors, Cessnock Business Chamber made the decision to cancel due to mounting financial pressures.
Launched in April 2016, the festival quickly grew into a community favourite, showcasing the region’s vibrant wine industry and providing a day of family fun. Over the years, attendees enjoyed grape stomping, bustling market stalls, and live entertainment along Vincent Street in the heart of Cessnock. However, escalating expenses have forced organizers to make the difficult decision to cease the event after a successful, albeit interrupted, seven-year run.
The festival, designed to unite the community and bolster local businesses, had become a hallmark celebration in the Cessnock region. Funded through grants, sponsorships, and stallholder contributions, it served as an economic boon for nearby precincts. Despite this, the rising costs associated with hosting a compliant and safe event, including equipment rentals, traffic management, and insurance, have proven unsustainable. While the Cessnock Business Chamber—led by a volunteer board—has underwritten the event in previous years, increasing funding gaps have made it infeasible to continue without compromising the Chamber’s long-term goals.
The challenges faced by the Stomp Festival were further exacerbated by interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Postponements and cancellations during this period placed additional financial and logistical strain on the organizers, making the event’s recovery even more difficult. Though the Chamber worked tirelessly to revive the festival in recent years, the financial reality could not be ignored. In a statement, the Chamber emphasized that the decision to cancel was made with great reluctance but reflects a commitment to sustaining the organization’s mission of supporting local businesses.
While the Stomp Festival’s cancellation marks the end of an era, the Chamber remains optimistic about the future and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the festival’s supporters, sponsors, and community for their understanding.
