Running Sunday, April 23, Stomp has been devised by the local Chamber of Commerce to showcase Cessnock as the Gateway to Hunter Wine Country and a vibrant community encompassing, food, fashion wine and beers.

Vincent Street will be  blocked off between 10am and 4pm on the day.

Highlights include the Mad Hatter High Tea, grape stomping competition, Peterson House Bubbles Lane, craft beer stalls, markets, fashion parade, live entertainment and a whole range of kids amusements, rides, and face painting to create a family friendly carnival atmosphere.

Sample award-winning wines from over 30 vineyards including sparkling wines at Peterson House Bubble Lane.

If you want to get closer to the process, enter the grape stomping competition where the aim is to crush as much juice as you can in two minutes.

Tumble down the rabbit hole and join Alice and the Hare for a Mad Hatter’s High Tea.

With three sessions throughout the afternoon all you need to do is choose your time and sit back and relax and watch the festival unfold around you.

Join six local fashion houses for the Stomp Fashion parade on Vincent Street.

Enjoy a craft beer at Beer Haven courtesy of Hunter Valley  microbreweries Hunter Beer Co., Hope Brewhouse, The Lovedale brewery and IronBark Hill Brewhouse.

Some of Australia’s most talented chefs and restaurateurs will provide a gastronomic journey.

The kids will have a ball  with amusements, rides and jumping castles in abundance, including the Hunter Valley Zoo who will bring along some friends.

Local  bus company iHop will be doing complimentary pick-ups from most accommodation around the valley dropping off into Cessnock.

It’s the second year the festival has run. Last year organisers hoped for 4000 people and got 11,000.

This year that figure is expected to swell as visitors add the event to their bucket list.  

Tickets for the Mad Hatter’s High Tea and grape-stomping challenges are still available at the festival’s website, www.cessnockstompfestival.com.au.