Following an incredible debut announcement, Caper Byron Bay Our Food and Culture Festival will launch their first program inclusive of over 30 diverse events and experiences. Across a four-day celebration in November, the dynamic series will showcase the best of Northern River’s food, beverage, music and art, with tickets on sale now.
Formally known as REVEL, the festival has been renamed to Caper Byron Bay, inspired by its namesake Caper- verb; To frolic about in a happy manner. While the name may have changed, the festival’s commitment to celebrating the melting pots of individuals who have helped to shape Byron Shire’s past, present and future, has only grown stronger.
The 2022 festival program is a testament of Caper Byron Bay’s respect for its colourful community, with the diverse line-up illustrating the region’s incredible creative talent, great produce and food, and it’s wondrous natural beauty.
Thursday, 10th November to Sunday, 13th November, locals and travellers can experience restaurant takeovers, free art exhibitions, bush tucker tours, live music events, long lunches and curated dinners, brewery and gins tours, immersive workshops, and more.
On designing the inaugural program for the festival, Alex Taylor, Caper Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival Founder and Director said “The festival program has been curated to highlight the very best of the region. The only problem with this is that we're so spoilt here - there are just so many people doing incredible things! Keeping in mind it's our first year, we didn't want to overcook it, so to speak, with too many events in the program. But that just means we've got lots of room to grow in future years.”
The food and beverage component of Caper Byron Bay has been led by Festival Food Curator, David Moyle. The acclaimed chef has curated a program that will bring people together to enjoy the company of friends and family with good food and good vibes. Ticketed events include a 5-course dinner at Bar Heather with Palisa Anderson and her premium produce from Boon Luck, bottomless oysters and Bellini’s at Balcony Bar & Oyster Co, a sourdough workshop with Bread Social, and a decadent 4- course degustation long lunch and natural wine pairing at Supernatural.
People can also expect an educational panel discussion, tour and farm-to-table feast with The Farm x Three Blue Ducks, tours with Brookes Gin & Common People Brewery, canapes and drinks at Shelter, a backyard BBQ & brew with 100 Mile Table at Stone & Wood, long lunches at Beach Byron Bay & Raes on Wategos, beats, bubbles and brunch at Treehouse on Belongil, a Spanish fiesta at The Hut, a Sicilian-inspired fare with Mosey On Inn Group at Jilly Winery, and more.
Three Blue Ducks Co-Owner, Jeff Bennett conveys the importance of Caper Byron Bay for the local community, stating “Festivals and events are vital in regional places because they bring communities together, and that's what I think is most important about Caper Byron Bay. After years kept apart and exceedingly trying times, we're all aching to get together again and celebrate, and celebration in my opinion is best done with food and drinks! Events like these also make great excuses for fun collaborations, hence we've signed on for two within Caper. An educational event with The Farm and a Fire Feast dinner with Brookie's Gin.”
Caper Byron Bay will also be turning the Brunswick Picture House into a Yum Cha restaurant with old Shanghai vibes across Saturday and Sunday, with famed Melbourne Chinatown Diner ShanDong MaMa. The festival is also thrilled to be welcoming guest chef Louis Tikaram from Brisbane’s Stanley restaurant, who will be joining the Brunswick Picture House on Friday and Saturday night for ‘dinner and show’ take-over - Cantonese and Cabaret. For the performance aspect of the evenings, previous ABC’s Playschool host and jazz singer, Monica Trapaga will be taking the stage.
Having grown up in Mullumbimby, Louis Tikaram guest chef for the Cantonese and Cabaret says, “I'm so excited to return back to the Byron shire where I grew up to share everything I have learnt over the last 20 years of travelling, cooking and running restaurants all over the world to hopefully inspire some local eager young chefs, cooks or hospitality students. I am also really keen to visit a few local farms while I am in the area and reconnect with some local producers and farmers to showcase their produce on my menu at the Brunswick picture house.”
For arts, culture and wellness, Caper Byron Bay will showcase free exhibitions at Yeah, Nice Gallery, art salon Gallery 7, Gallery 3 and ThomGallery. There will be saltwater therapy and an ‘anti-bad vibes circle’ with OneWave Fluro Friday and an experience to embrace Bundjalung Nation’s Indigenous culture with a special Karkalla and Explore Byron Bay event. The day begins with a walk on Country tour led by Explore Byron Bay owner and Arakwal woman Delta Kay, and followed by a five-course all- inclusive lunch curated by Karkalla chef and owner Mindy Woods.
Entrepreneur and Restaurateur, Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, CicciaBella, RE, Belongil Beach Italian Food) will be partaking in the program, with his relaxed, seaside experience Belongil Beach Italian Food. The venue will host a vibrant sunset party on Saturday, November 13, with 5 hours of Italian-inspired canapes, a drinks packaging including cocktails, and a rotating line-up of special guest DJs all night long.
On his involvement, Terzini notes “Having the chance to collaborate on Caper Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival is an incredible honour. Belongil Beach Italian Food was always designed to be a local hang out, in addition to catering to the increasing Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers tourist trade. The festival will give us the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals and businesses, who share the same sense of values and ethics - showcasing the best of Byron Bay and surrounds! “Quality, sustainability, community”
The heart and creative hub of Caper Byron Bay Festival will be Caper Village, Presented by North Byron Hotel. The festival will be taking over the entire North Byron Hotel in the Byron Arts & Industrial Estate and transforming it into a spectacle for the senses, becoming a food, art and entertainment precinct packed with full-day programming.
The hub will include pop-ups of local Northern Rivers restaurant food stalls, bars & beverage stalls from leading local and national producers, live music and DJs, art installations, roaming entertainment, workshops, panels, talks and a huge kids program line-up.
Jonny Ruddy - Co-Festival Director, further adds “One of the most encouraging things throughout organising this is how excited our event partners are for this festival, and the wonderful feedback we're getting from the local community. It just makes sense for all these things to come together in celebration of Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers. The thing is, we're not doing anything particularly unique or astounding, we're just bringing talented people together, letting them do their thing. What's unique is that all these fabulous things are happening within one long weekend period and it caters to lots of interests so there is something for everyone.”
Caper Byron Bay welcomes you to Northern Rivers to celebrate the immense talent, produce, culture, arts and community. This festival is a toast to the movers and shakers of Byron Shire and welcome to all.
Caper Byron Bay Our Food and Culture Festival will be held across various venues on Thursday, 10th November to Sunday, 13th November. Tickets are on sale now at caperbyronbay.com/.