The region’s favourite culinary-themed festival is back this weekend, drawing thousands of foodies to the region for a celebration of seafood and community.
The Portarlington Mussel Festival returns this Saturday 10 January, with mussels cooked in every way imaginable, cooking demonstrations, local beer and wine tastings, art and photography exhibitions and kids activities running from 9.30am to 5pm.
The festival also features more than 200 market stalls, featuring makers and producers from around the wider region proffering their wares, and a full program of live music over three stages headlined by world-renowned Elton John tribute artist Elton Jack.
Running since 2007, the Mussel Festival regularly draws more than 30,000 visitors to the Bellarine each year.
Festival director Ian Favarger said the festival “simply wouldn’t eventuate” without the extensive support of the more than 200 volunteers who went “above and beyond” each year.
“Naturally, the focus is on the mussels themselves, which come in various recipes throughout the day, but there’s multiple stages with bands, the jumping castle and roaming entertainers for the kids,” he said
“It’s a great day of family fun, and I get the greatest pleasure seeing families doing something together and connecting.
“But seeing all the behind-the-scenes work from the volunteer network that supports us is a real highlight.
“We had one volunteer here on Monday night who has been involved for all but one of the 19 festivals, that’s how dedicated some of our volunteers are. Seeing that community support is why I do this type of stuff.”
Visit portmusselfestival.com for the full program.
