We are coming off a busy summer for our region, which was packed full of events.
From our expanded Christmas program to the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, to the Festival of Sails to last weekend’s Pako Festa, it has felt like we have had something to look forward to every week.
March is set to be another big month for our region, with plenty of things happening in and around Geelong.
It kicks off this weekend with the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, which is one of the biggest events on our calendar.
This past week I have had the pleasure of attending various functions in relation to the airshow, which has provided a wonderful opportunity to promote our region as a destination of choice for defence and aviation industries to do business.
The Australian International Airshow gave Greater Geelong’s local economy a $28.9 million boost when it was last held in 2019, and with anticipated record numbers – in the proximity of 200,000 people – set to attend this year, it will once again leave a substantial mark on our region.
One of the other events I am really looking forward to this month is the Tastes of Central Geelong festival.
This is now in its 12 th year, showcasing the amazing food and hospitality sector in the heart of our region.
Since its inception, Tastes of Central Geelong has been embraced by many local businesses as well as the broader community, and has become an annual highlight on the event calendar.
This year’s program encourages Geelong residents to stay local, eat local and drink local and invites visitors from outside of the region to come and see just how much there is to discover, for seasoned foodies and new food lovers alike.
The Greater Geelong region boasts a vast selection of delicious, fresh, locally grown produce.
I am proud of the fact that we are also home to some of the country’s best wineries, boutique distilleries and craft breweries.
If you have been out in Melbourne, Regional Victoria, and indeed across Australia, you may have seen some of these food and drink offerings served by top venues outside of Geelong.
But the beauty of living here is that all these products are readily available at our top restaurants, bars and cafes, waiting for you to come and try.
This year, the festival offers experiences for all ages across 11 days.
It includes many free activities such as an afternoon tea with a celebrity chef at The Pier, a cupcake decorating session with Baked By Us, a Native Australia and Indigenous tasting event hosted by The Gordon, as well as cooking classes, workshops and more.
The Tastes of Central Geelong is all about indulging your senses, so I encourage you to get out and explore our many fine restaurants, wine bars and tourist attractions.
