Weekend Table is serving the best of the Darling Downs at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
From vineyard dinners and country pub lunches to floral cake decorating and heritage rail dining, Weekend Table is serving up the Darling Downs’ best flavours during the 2026 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. Here’s your guide to the immersive food and wine experiences worth planning a spring getaway around.
The Darling Downs is as diverse as it is vast. It’s a region of sweeping farmlands, stretched out under the endless blue sky, criss-crossed by country roads connecting a number of high country hamlets. It’s a land of crisp winds, patchwork plains and unrestrained beauty – and at the centre of it all sits Toowoomba.
Perched atop the Great Dividing Range, straddling the lands of the Jarowair people and the Giabal people, Toowoomba is a city with a rich history. Victorian-era architecture belies its pastoral past, which has given way to a thriving cultural and culinary scene. These days, Toowoomba is a city home to theatres, galleries, cafes and restaurants, with a lively event calendar headlined by the annual celebration, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is returning in 2026 with a jam-packed program of events, taking place across the city and its surrounds from Friday September 18 to Monday October 5. In addition to marquee events like the Grand Central Floral Parade and FEASTival, this year’s program features a revamped Weekend Table – a set of immersive dining and tasting experiences that take guests beyond Toowoomba to some of the Darling Downs’ best venues. Running from October 2–5, Weekend Table will highlight some of the region’s best local producers, wineries and seasonal ingredients. Here’s what is in store …
Bubbles & Buttercream – Monday October 5, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Ever tried your hand at cake decorating? If you’re looking for a unique way to express some creativity, this hands-on cake-decorating workshop Bubbles & Buttercream is just the ticket.
Hosted by Renee Jarrett of Daisy Cakes and Bakes, guests will gather in the lush surrounds of Laurel Bank Park for a masterclass in floral cake decoration. After demonstrating how to wield a palette knife and master essential brush techniques, guests will transform a 5-inch cake with petals, blooms and any embellishments they can craft – all while grazing on a gourmet share platter.
Once your dreamy dessert is decorated to your liking, toast your own creativity with a glass of French champagne before taking your cake home to show off and devour.
Tickets are limited – click here to snag a spot before they are all gone.
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Long lunch at the Bull & Barley Inn – Friday October 2, 12:00–3:00 pm
A short drive southwest of Toowoomba sits Cambooya – a history-rich township that boasts one of the best country pubs in the region. Built in 1902 and originally named the Cambooya Railway Hotel, Bull & Barley Inn has been lovingly restored over the years while still maintaining its high standard of old-fashioned hospitality.
For Weekend Table, the pub will play host to a leisurely two-course lunch that celebrates the exceptional producers, growers and distillers that make the Darling Downs one of the state’s best dining destinations.
Guests at this seated event can expect dishes like bacon-wrapped eye fillet mignon with creamy potato gratin, crispy-skinned barramundi with roasted duck-fat potatoes, vanilla bean ice-cream with salted-caramel sauce and a pour-over shot of Cambooya’s own Rusty Mill Distillery maple whiskey liqueur, as well as live music from local artist Kylie Hogan. Neville Fox of Rusty Mill Distillery will also be at the bar during lunch to offer locally produced whiskey tastings. Get your tickets here.
An afternoon at Preston Manor – Saturday October 3, 12:00–4:00 pm
Nestled amidst the Darling Downs mountain ranges sits one of the region’s most picturesque event destinations. Preston Manor in Top Camp is a multifaceted estate featuring a central manor (originally dubbed Torrington Homestead) and a 120-seat chapel (carefully relocated to its current position in 2006), thoughtfully restored to their former grandeur. Now operated by Alister Ferguson (the brains behind Bone Idol Bar), the venue has entered a new era as one of the region’s top wedding venues.
For Weekend Table, the manor’s pavilion will be home to a four-course lunch with wine pairings, enjoyed alongside sweeping views across the surrounding landscape. Head chef Nick Dunne will prepare a feast shaped by the area’s bounty of produce – the kind of fare you’ll want to slow down and savour.
Highlights of the menu include oysters three ways, smoked and braised lamb shoulder, smoked and charred beef short rib, and mulberry Black Forest cake. Sound like your kind of event? You can get a ticket or two here.
A dreamy afternoon at DownsSteam – Sunday October 4, 12:00–4:00 pm
Do you go loco for locomotives? Are you a history buff? Do you like culinary experiences in unexpected places? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, this Weekend Table event is for you.
DownsSteam is Toowoomba’s own volunteer-driven heritage railway depot – a living museum that preserves the region’s rich rail heritage. In addition to restoring steam locomotives, DownsSteam also offers a range of experiences, from steam shuttles to pub lunches and curated dining adventures in beautifully restored heritage carriages.
During the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, foodies are invited to visit DownsSteam for an afternoon of fine-dining elegance. The journey begins with bubbles on the garden deck before guests try their hand at floral arranging (their creation will be the centrepiece of the table).
Subscribe for updatesGuests will then be shown to their table inside the Lady MacGregor railway carriage, which will play host to an exquisite three-course meal paired with Heritage Estate wines from Stanthorpe. Menu highlights include pork belly bites with miso-chilli caramel sauce, pulled beef cheek with tagliatelle and raspberry meringue roulade with whipped cream and berry coulis.
Tickets also include access to the jaw-dropping Dreamtime carriage – a must-see work of art. Blending history and gastronomy, this event is a bona fide highlight of the Weekend Table program – secure a seat before you miss out.
Six-course dinner at Aberfeldy Barn – Saturday October 3, 5:30–10:30 pm
Located in Westbrook, Aberfeldy Barn is a family-operated events venue that has become a jewel of the Darling Downs social scene. Run by Cass and Tony, the barn has played host to everything from lavish weddings to lively line-dancing nights and, during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, it will be the site of a spectacular six-course dinner with curated wine pairings.
As the sun sets over the nearby paddocks, the Hamptons-style property will come to life. Guests will be greeted on the sweeping lawn by flutes of sparkling and platters of artisanal canapes, before the main event begins.
The flower-inspired menu will include inari sushi with lavender vinegar, crisp prosciutto penne carbonara with fried zucchini flowers, seared eye fillet with potato puree, glazed carrots and hibiscus-laced steak sauce, and lavender custard creme brulee with passionfruit coulis. Each plate will be accompanied by a matched vino from award-winning Ballandean Estate Wines. Tickets to this event will sell out – click here to secure your spot.
High tea at Jilly’s Cafe – Saturday October 3, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
A long-running Toowoomba institution, Jilly’s Cafe is more than a brunch spot – it is a pillar of the city’s culinary scene. Lisa and Mark Bentley have run the popular nosh spot since taking over in 2017, maintaining its legacy as a go-to spot for bang-on brekkie, coffee and community spirit.
During Weekend Table, the cafe will transform into an elegant tea house, where guests will savour sweet and savoury delights – think scones with rose-petal jam, parmesan cheesecakes, salted-caramel chocolate tarts and fancy macarons – on fine floral china alongside glasses of elderflower fizz, unlimited English breakfast tea and barista-made coffee.
This refined yet leisurely experience is perfect for those looking to catch up with friends and family before seeing the floral displays at nearby Queens Park. Gluten-free options are available – just specify your dietary needs when buying your ticket here.
A grazing-style dinner among the vines at Rosalie House – Friday October 2, 6:00–9:00 pm
How does a three-course dinner among grapevines sound to you? If you reckon that’s your kind of vibe, plot a course for Lilyvale Valley in Meringandan, where you’ll find Rosalie House. This small winery is famed for bringing people together to enjoy food and wine, with its on-site restaurant being an award-winning spot to dine.
During the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, the Rosalie House team will put on a post-sunset spread with a Mediterranean-inspired flair, dishing up a three-course grazing-style meal accompanied by a welcome drink on arrival and live music drifting through the evening air. Seats are strictly limited. Book now to secure your place.
A grazing table workshop experience at Relish – Saturday October 3, 3:30–5:30 pm
Ever wanted to learn how those drool-worthy charcuterie boards on Pinterest are assembled? Here’s your chance to brush up on your catering skills with this hands-on workshop at Relish Cafe in Highfields.
Guests will be shown how to curate and style their very own grazing box, with an assortment of gourmet provisions from Darling Downs producers like Bannock Brae Meats, Merritts Creek Bakery and Save the Bees Honey on hand to choose from. Charcuterie, artisan cheeses, dips, antipasto, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, breads and crackers – all the essentials will be on hand, alongside a drink on arrival. Sign up for the fun here.
The writer was an invited guest of Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
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