Many KV locals will remember Hilton and Maureen Thompson, Peter’s parents who had The Friendly Inn from 1981 to 1986. As 2026 rolls in, the Thompson family will celebrate 15 years of bringing beers and cheers to the valley. It’s worth taking a squiz back at how it all started, and how this unassuming country pub became one of NSW’s most consistently entertaining ungentrified gems.
Kangaroo Valley Bonfire Night
From little things big things burn! The Friendly Inn Bonfire Night (held on the King’s Birthday long weekend) has grown into a massive winter spectacle for the valley. Early versions featured a simple blaze out the back of the pub with the community pitching in on the build. These days, it stars a massive crafted bonfire, scattered fire pits and a huge fireworks show! The pub has worked with fire artists to delight and surprise patrons with weird and wonderful fire sculptures. There is of course mulled wine, full bistro, local food stalls, and its great family night of simple country fun around the flames.
Pig Day Out KANGAROO VALLEY
In 2013 Pete got the opportunity of having Kev Kiley from Noah’s Thoroughbred Racing Pigs to visit the valley on a spare day on his trip to Tathra for an Annual Lions club gig. Kev has been entertaining Aussies for 20 years raising money for charities all over the nation. Sydney Royal, Brisbane Royal, Canberra Royal, Hobart, you name it he has delighted people with his gorgeous young piglets who love milk.
The Friendly Inn has worked with Kev since then to raise over $90,000 for The Victor Chang Foundation, the Heart Foundation, the Bomaderry Junior AFL club, the Kangaroo Valley Primary School and the Kangaroo Valley Preschool and most recently the newly formed KVFC who Pete reckons should be called the Sharks.
Now every Easter Saturday There is the Friendly Inn Pig Day Out!
It’s all ages fun with everyone smiling and laughing as the adorable piglets hunt for a saucer of fresh milk. Not only that but there is a raffle for each “race” winner! (Not races at all, just piglets ambling about trying to find a small tub of that delicious product KV is famous for: Milk.)
It’s a super Easter Saturday day of family fun, with music great food piglet racing entertainment and face painting for the kids.
KANGAROO VALLEYCRAFT BEER & BBQ FESTIVAL
Australia has discovered and fallen in love with the USA low and slow meat smoking tradition. The Friendly Inn has too! Pete was an early adopter of this new way to entice people to gather and have fun around a fire.
The pub has had for years now an annual smoked meats competition with $12,000 in prize money. Some say it’s the longest running and best fun bbq competition in Australia. Definitely the most picturesque as it is held in the grounds of the pub.
The BBQ competition is sanctioned by the Australian Barbecue Alliance. Over the years, the event has evolved into a family-friendly weekend with market stalls, the best bbq eats in Australia, great live music, face painting and of course featuring the hilarious piglet races. The entertainment offerings change each year with Professional Wrestling, competitive lawn mower racing and even Medieval Knight battles occurring lately.
Now entering its 10th year in 2026, The Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer and BBQ Festival has grown from a cheeky cool bbq competition into a family friendly fun weekend of excellent food, chill fun music and good times. It is responsible for bringing in over 2500 excited visitors to the valley every September. 2026 can be considered its 10 year anniversary, and this year will be the best.
KANGAROO VALLEY REGGAE FESTIVAL
When Caroline Lenati left her executive event management role at East’s Leagues Club in Bondi Junction to take on the manager reins at The Friendly Inn, nobody quite knew what was coming.
She now runs all the much loved events at the pub and in true valley style, her idea of a new Reggae music Festival was met with a laid-back shrug and a “yeah, why not?” from Peter Thompson.
KV Reggaefest debuted in 2024 as the newest addition to The Friendly’s stacked events calendar—and it landed with the smooth, soulful thump of a bass line straight outta Kingston. Inspired by Caroline’s love of reggae and roots music, and her vision to bring a more inclusive, diverse vibe to the valley’s cultural life, the fest was an instant crowd-pleaser. Gearing up for its third outing in May 2026, with the music curation of long time Valley identity Damian Sterling, KV Reggaefest has set the trend for south coast island vibe entertainment. Stay tuned as Caroline has more events in the pipeline.
KANGAROO VALLEY PUB
Tourists from far and wide luxuriate in the tranquil beauty of Kangaroo Valley, with its vast array of accommodation options. The Friendly inn presents as an authentic rustic village pub that just doesn’t exist anymore more in the city. With outstanding bistro meals and the biggest range of craft beer on the coast the Inn however still offers quality dining and beverage options.
While the pub’s major events draw huge crowds, it’s the regular happenings that keep the Friendly Inns’ community heart beating.
Locals night every Thursday is an Aussie pub old school classic. Think Meat tray raffles and the drama of a Joker Poker draw organised by the KV Fishing Club.
Trivia is also monthly where locals turn their phones off and their brains on for 2 hours. Beware!!
Pub Karaoke is also on every last Saturday and is known on the south coast as the VERY BEST.
Most of all for many in the community the pub plays a supporting role as a meeting place, to connect, share stories, celebrate or commiserate, all done together over a lovely glass of amber joy. Long may it remain so.