Sports and Culture
Kingaroy has a vibrant sporting, cultural and social life and is home to an art gallery and several local craft outlets as well as a range of well-maintained and attractive parklands. The town is host of sportsmen including NRL newcomer's Chris Sandow and Chris McQueen Wallabies centre/fly-half Berrick Barnes, as well as Australia cricket test and one day opening batter Matthew Hayden. The town has two lookouts (at nearby Mt Wooroolin and Apex Park in Fisher Street) which provide striking panoramic views across the area. Kingaroy also has its own golf club, cricket club, and bowls club. Live entertainment is held regularly at the Returned Services League club as well as several central hotels and in Kingaroy Town Hall. A half-dozen cellardoors are located either in town of very close to it. It is also has a notable speedway track.
Kingaroy has a rich history with Australia's four Football codes. Rugby League is arguably the most popular sport in terms of having a following, which reflects the passionate Rugby League culture in the Wide Bay-Burnett region. Kingaroy has a Rugby League team that participates in the South Burnett competition, named the Kingaroy Red Ants. The town also has a couple of Football (Soccer) teams that partake in the South Burnett ever growing Football competition. Kingaroy is also home to the South Burnett Thrashers, a Rugby Union team that participates in the strong Darling Downs Rugby Union competition. The South Burnett area is currently planning and forming an Australian Rules Football club to enter the Darling Downs AFL competition in 2013, called the 'South Burnett Saints,' which will be based in Kingaroy. Kingaroy previously had junior and senior AFL teams in the Darling Downs AFL competition, with the Kingaroy Bulldogs senior men's side playing on and off from the early 1980s up until 2006, and the Kingaroy-Nanango Jets junior side playing up until 2009. The Saints are planning for a sustainable future, with Aussie Rules gaining a growing interest in the community.
Major annual events include the Wine and Food In The Park Festival (held each March); The Kingaroy Trail Ride held since 2009 at "Minmore" 36 km from Kingaroy on the Burrandowan road (May 2011); the Kingaroy Show (held each May); the Burrandowan Picnic Races (held at Burrandowan on the outskirts of the Shire, also each May); the week-long UAV Outback Challenge flying robot competition (held each September) and the Christmas Carnival (each December).
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