The Bellingen Jazz and Blues Festival, held over a weekend in August each year, is one of the highlights of the regional cultural calendar. It brings together jazz, blues, and world music acts across multiple venues — the main stage in Bellingen Park, the Bellingen Showground, and a scatter of pubs, cafes, and smaller spaces around town. The combination of good music, attractive setting, and the autumn-into-winter warmth of the Bellinger Valley makes it a genuinely enjoyable event.
August is a good time to visit the valley regardless of the festival — the weather is mild and clear, and the valley is at its most photogenic with morning mist in the paddocks. Book accommodation well in advance for festival weekend. The Global Carnival, held in October, is a separate world music event with a more eclectic programme.