Here is one festival that will go ahead in 2020

Tamar Valley Organics walnuts

The Farmgate Festival in Tasmania will buck the trend and go ahead for a fourth year in 2020.

Twelve farms and vineyards in the West Tamar will open their gates to the public for the weekend of November 21-22 for the annual festival. 

Visitors are invited to enjoy on-farm tours, meet farmers and producers, and hear their stories.

Joining the festival this year are cider makers, walnut, truffle, berry and olive growers, a snail farm, a dairy farm, beekeepers and honey makers, a large scale sheep and cattle farm, and two historic vineyards, one specialising in biodynamics.

"It’s a smaller festival this year, but there are still fascinating farms to visit," said festival organizer Fiona Stocker. 

"It’s a rare chance to get onto a small farm, meet the producer and go on a farm tour. There’s a good feeling to the festival, and visitors have often returned year after year to visit farms they’ve missed."

Tickets are on sale on the website, and visitors are asked to book in advance to reduce contact and queuing on the festival weekend. See www.farmgatefestival.net.au

There will be festival dinners on both the Friday and Saturday evenings, hosted by a local vineyard and a gourmet café. 

Vineyard owners Mirabai and Adrian Carruthers at Loira Vines will hosting a Four Seasons Soiree, with live music matched to a wining and dining experience. 

At Moon Lily Kitchen and Cakes, Lucinda Seymour is presenting a degustation featuring local wnes. 

The safety of visitors and those working and volunteering on the farms and vineyard venues is a priority, with Covid-19 safety planning underway for the festival. 

"We want everyone to feel safe,’ said Stocker. "We’ve worked hard to make sure we have the correct guidelines and measures in place, and will be relying on everyone who comes along to be patient and help us by following those."