The Banjo Paterson Festival will return in a COVID-safe format with events in Orange and the region in February.

Organiser of the youth poetry competition, Len Banks, has encouraged potential entrants to start now.

"Don't leave it till next year to create a poem," he said.

"Start now so that you can refine it, practice it and enjoy reciting it ready for the competition. There is also some good prize money available to win."

The competition is on Saturday February 20 and is open to primary and high school aged poets who need to to recite their own original poems. Entries close on February 10.

"These young people provide heaps of entertainment and astound us all with their ability to reflect their thoughts, their visions and their life in rhyming verse," he said.

"There is so much that can be said in verse and the possible topics for poems are endless. Just look at the way Banjo Paterson described his life experiences in poems that are still favourites today."

Mr Banks said while the usual night markets have had to be cancelled for 2021 there were many other events on during the festival.

They include the unveiling of a three-metre bronze sculpture of Banjo Paterson at the Yeoval Banjo Paterson Museum.

He said there was also the poets' brunch at Yeoval, a twilight celebration of Banjo's birthday in Orange, the Wrath of Grapes event at Heifer Station Wines, Poetry on the Pavers, Rotary's market day and a visit to the historic Boree Cabonne homestead.