Get set for the first ever Harvest Festival this month
Funds raised to go towards the McLaren Vale Hospital
The Harvest Festival – McLaren Vale is a new free entry event which is hoped will become a January feature that everyone looks forward to.
It is a day on the McLaren Vale oval for everyone with music, food, wine and beer, free children’s entertainment, a variety of master classes and a whole lot more.
An important part of all of this is the money raised will help the McLaren Vale Hospital with its substantial wish list of items to make it a better hospital.
Martin Lightfoot, who is a member of the festival organising committee said the idea started with a simple thought of a Blessing of the Harvest event, however discussion lead to events done in the past like the Bushing Festival and how that was a community event, while everything current is more specifically wine and food.
“We all got excited about doing a festival which was for everyone and from there it just built and built,” Martin said.
So far the response from the community has been very positive.
“Of course it is always hard to know the broad communities level of enthusiasm until the day, so we live on the edge hoping for success,” he said.
The Harvest Festival committee has been meeting fortnightly and then in the later months weekly since February 2011.
It has grown in size as they have gathered in new and amazing talents. The people who have put their hand up have such a wonderful array of backgrounds and tremendous skills.
There are 16 in the committee but there are many others who have made important contributions.
The plan is for the event to run every year and become a must do event.
Entry will be free and much of the entertainment will also be free.
Martin and the committee would like to thank the sponsors of the event.
“As without their belief in what we were planning and their financial commitment there would be no festival,” he said.
The sponsors are:
City of Onkaparinga, Simply Organoleptic, Serafino, J&J Wines, Channel 9, Mix 102.3, PSG Boffa, Russo, Adelaide Airport, Ink on Paper, Crompton Lighting, Ampale Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Vinrock, Bank SA, Goodiesons Brewery, Academy of Rock, Hiltons Betta Electrical, Bartercard, Torresan Estates, Doc Adams Wines, Sylvan Springs, The Hedonist, Rainbow Pony Parties, Franklin Brand Management and Allpro Audio.
Highlights of the 2012 Harvest Festival include:
Saturday, January 14 - the festival starts at 10.00am
k The Festival will be Officially opened by His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR Governor of South Australia.
k 14 food marquees offering everything from Coorong mullet to pizzas and pasta to gelati.
k18 wine and beer marquees giving you a chance to try local wines and beers you may not previously seen, as well as some old favourites too.
k Celebrity Challenge where some well recognised names and faces partnered by local winemakers put themselves through a competition in wine spitting and pasta eating. It may not be pretty sight but it will be fun.
k Master Chef Simon Bryant takes over the Bank SA marquee to create a special Harvest Festival dish from produce he has purchased that morning at the Willunga Farmers Market. What it will be even Simon won’t know until he starts the chopping and stirring.
k A special area for kids where most of the entertainment is free. There is everything from rides on ponies or a mini train, an Animal Nursery, monster cars, a one man band, balloon and bubbles and a whole lot more.
k On the Main stage its music of all types including the Onkaparinga City Concert Band and the great talents of the Fleurieu arranged through the Academy of Rock.
k There will be Master Classes to increase your understanding of olive oil, wine characteristics, cheese making, beer and food matching.
k A childrens parade around the oval carrying the fresh produce of the Fleurieu which they will present to the ministers of our churches to be blessed for their future harvests.
k Away from the Oval two other events take place:
- At Rosemount Winery/Cellar Door the exhibits from the Harvest Festival Art competition will be on display. Nearly 100 entries have been received including well recognised talents such as Roe Gartelman, Jenni Mumford, Brian O’Malley, Kristian Mumford, Jane “Possum” Bari.
- The Harvest Festival sponsors appreciation and McLaren Vale hospital fund raising dinner will be at Serafino Restaurant on Friday January 13.
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