By KATH GANNAWAY
A FESTIVAL by any other name!
Wikipedia describes a festival as “an event ordinarily staged by a local community which centres on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community”.
Whatever the definition, somehow wherever the word ‘festival’ crops up, one will invariably find the word ‘fun’ not far away.
Autumn is the prime-time for festival fun (see!) in the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges and the range of ‘unique’ aspects that festivals celebrate makes for a smorgasbord of fun and festivity for people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Want to celebrate our dynamic, delicious produce?
There are festivals that celebrate in their own right chillis, chestnuts and apples.
For tastes that are more eclectic, there are long lunches, short lunches and a host of events as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival that celebrate a huge variety of locally produced foods.
There are festivals that celebrate heritage and culture, comedy, art, music, family, film, the summer solstice… and living in harmony.
Some are just to bring people together for fun!
Visitor information centres are the ‘go to’ for all anyone needs to know to get into festival-mode this autumn.
So visit the websites below, make the call to put some festival fun into a visit.
Fir more information visit www.marysvilletourism.com, phone 5963 4567; www.visityarravalley.com.au, phone 5962 2600; www.warrandyte3133; www.experiencethedandenongs.com.au, phone 9758 5522).
Autumn festivals
Regional World’s Longest Lunch, Mt Dandenong: 14 March
Coranderrk Festival, Healesville: 15 March
Herb and Chilli Festival, Wandin: 15-16 March
Mountain District Car and Bike Show, Healesville: 16 March
Kurth Kiln Heritage Festival, Gembrook: 16 March
Warrandyte Festival: 21-23 March
Healesville AutumnFest: 22 March
Upper Yarra Crank-Up, Yarra Junction: 5-6 April
Tarrawarra Music Festival, Healesville: 5-6 April
Pave Festival and FunFest, Emerald: 6-13 April
International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Warburton: 30 April
Gladysdale Apple Festival: 4 May
Kalorama Chestnut Festival: 4 May
Kellybrook CiderFest, Wonga Park: 3-4 May
Warburton Harmony Festival: 16-19 May
International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Upwey: 28 June
Shortest Lunch Yarra Valley: 21-22 June
International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Marysville: 28 June
