Young’s National Cherry Festival is on from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December 2026. It’s one of the biggest weekends of the year in the Hilltops, and beds in Young are usually the first thing to go. Motel Royal Tara in Binalong is 63 km away, under an hour’s drive. Festival weekend is almost fully booked here too: at the time of writing (29 October) we have just two rooms left, so call us on 02 6227 4310 to check.
What’s on at the Cherry Festival
The weekend opens on Friday evening with the Multicultural Cherry Fiesta, an international food fair on Young’s main street that finishes with fireworks. Saturday brings the street parade. Markets, music and fringe events run across Saturday and Sunday, and many local orchards open for tasting and picking while the season is in full swing. Check the National Cherry Festival website for the full program.
Why stay in Binalong for the festival
- All 20 rooms are on the ground floor, with your own parking space at the door. No carrying bags up stairs after a long day.
- Every room has a kitchenette with a fridge, so the cherries you buy stay cold.
- Our restaurant serves dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights: signature steaks, burgers, pizza, and Indian curries and biryanis. Breakfast is available by pre-booking.
- Family, triple, queen and twin rooms are available. Pets under 20 kg are welcome by arrangement ($20 per pet, per night).
- Quiet country nights after a busy festival day.
Getting there
Binalong sits on the Burley Griffin Way, about 30 minutes from Yass. Head west through Galong and Harden to Young for the festival, and come back to a quiet room at night. If you’re driving from Sydney or Canberra, it’s an easy detour off the Hume Highway.
Book early, or come the week before or after
Festival weekend is the busiest weekend of the cherry season. If we are full, the orchards keep picking through November and into January, and the weeks either side of the festival are quieter on the roads and easier to book. See our rooms, our restaurant and nearby towns.
For best rates call 02 6227 4310 or book us online from our website.