Eight Indulgent Out-of-Town Food Festivals Worthy of a Weekend Road Trip

Apollo Bay’s seafood extravaganza returns to the Great Ocean Road for three big days from February 15–17. You don’t want to miss the Saturday morning ‘off the boat’ seafood market where the you’ll have the chance to buy the morning’s catch directly from the fisherman. There will be food stalls brimming with oysters, caviar and prawns from 8–10am. Then, at midday, the live music kicks off, along with plenty of craft beer, wines and cocktails to sweeten the deal.

If you’ve got a bit of extra cash, nab a ticket to the Friday night ‘ocean to plate’ gala feast where executive chef of Melbourne seafood fine diner The Atlantic Nick Mahlook and his expert team will serve up an eight-course taste of local seafood. Each dish will be matched with wine and dessert will be crafted by Om Nom’s executive chef Jo ward. Tickets are $185. On Sunday, the festival will round off with Conversations in the Littoral where guest speakers and experts will discuss the sustainability, science and harsh realities of the fishing industry. Tickets cost $50 to this one and include lunch. Otherwise, you can join at 5pm for Champagne, oysters and more discussion for just $25.

I scream, you scream, we’ve all been screaming for ice cream — and, for once, the gods have answered our prayers (and then some). The annual Ice Cream Festival is back, from February 13–24, and this year it’s taking place at three chocolateries and ice creameries across the Yarra Valley, the Great Ocean Road and the Mornington Peninsula. You may want to prepare the smelling salts because they’ll be trotting out 12 new flavours a day. For 12 days. That’s 144 unique flavours all up. Cue Homer-esque drooling.

For $20 you can indulge in a tasting session that covers 12 flavours at once, or just rampage around the place like a deranged, hungry Pac-Man and try to taste ’em all at $4.80 a pop. Compare the relative merits of flavours like aloe and cucumber, Champagne, Fruit Tingles and Oreo cheesecake — all while relaxing in the grounds in either Yarra Glen, Bellbrae or Flinders (or at all three). You can also go beyond ice cream, if you so please, and taste ice cream-topped pizzas, waffle ice cream sandwiches and OTT sundaes. The view may well be lost on you as you slide into a sugar-induced happiness coma, but that’s okay. They aren’t inventing all those flavours for you to not try them.

Looking for an excuse to get out of the city this weekend? The Great Australian Beer Festival might be it. The fest is returning to the Geelong Racecourse for its seventh year this Saturday, February 16 with over 200 Australian beers and ciders in tow. Craft producers from across the country will set up stalls, including the Gold Coast’s Balter Brewing Company — which just won top spot on the GABS Hottest 100 list — Melbourne’s Stomping Ground and Two Birds, Sydney’s Young Henrys and Adelaide’s Pirate Life and Prancing Pony.

This year, in addition to tasting tokens, the festival is also offering middies and craft tinnies for purchase. The beer cocktail stall will return as well, and table reservations are up for grabs, too. Apart from the brews, there’ll be over 20 live acts performing across three stages — one of which is a dedicated piano bar. Headliners include Great Gable, The Settlement, Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission, The Grand Wazoo and Skyscraper Stan. Otherwise, there’s a keg rolling competition, themed races, a beer cabaret and carnival DJs to boot. And, for eats, expect a range of food trucks, with a focus on barbecued, slow-cooked meats.

If you’re a fan of all things garlic, you’ll find yourself in excellent company with a visit out to Meeniyan, next Saturday, February 16. That’s when the famed annual Meeniyan Garlic Festival sees over 8000 punters descend on the Gippsland town for a jam-packed day of garlic-infused fun. This year’s food program is as big as ever, with a sprawling lineup of chef appearances, markets, talks and events to tempt just about every palate.

Catch garlic-driven cooking demonstrations from the likes of Tamsin Carvan (Tamsin’s Table), Hogget Kitchen‘s Trevor Perkins and Gippsland Food Ambassador Alejandro Saravia (Pastuso), and browse garlic-infused products from milkshakes to beer at the dedicated garlic marketplace. The town’s Main Street eateries will be getting into the spirit, too, with a slew of special festival offerings — including garlic ice cream at The Meeniyan Store. What’s more, you can load up on all sorts of knowledge with a series of talks and presentations led by the team at The Garlic Institute. They’ll cover everything from garlic’s many health benefits through to how to get started as a commercial grower.

It’s time to break out those picnic rugs ’cause The Peninsula Picnic is back for its annual celebration of food, wine and good times. Taking over the Mornington Racecourse on Saturday, March 30, this year’s lineup promises to be as impressive as ever, showcasing the region’s finest epicurean delights, alongside a rather nifty musical offering. Showing off their goods on the day — and ensuring bellies and wine glasses stay happily full — will be a hand-picked selection of local producers.

Expect offerings from renowned wineries like T’Gallent, Quealy and Prancing Horse, and dining hot-spots like Jackalope Hotel’s Rare Hare, Max’s Restaurant, Green Olive and Montalto. There’ll also be brews from Wild Yak and cocktails from Pimm’s, plus a series of wine masterclasses and market stalls. Topping it all off, The Peninsula Picnic has landed a cracking lineup of live tunes, headlined by Sydney band The Rubens. The five-piece rockers — who’ve just dropped their third album Lo La Ru — will be joined by loved Aussie singer Sarah Blasko, alt-indie artist Tia Gostelow, emerging local act Fraser A Gordon and Latin music performers San Lazaro.

Mandala Wines’ rolling green Yarra Valley property promises a cracker of a setting for this Italian-style al fresco feast. The winery’s DiVino Ristorante will be working its magic to transform a haul of super local produce into a sumptuous three-course lunch, enjoyed with a side of vineyard views from the lush gardens. Starring alongside a lineup of the estate’s own celebrated wines, the food menu features only ingredients sourced from within one kilometre of the restaurant.

Pull up a sunny patch of turf and tuck into house-made cold cuts matched to blanc de blancs, and succulent porchetta off the spit-roast, teamed with pinot noir poured straight from the barrel. You’ll finish in true Italian style, downing goat’s cheese panna cotta and limoncello in the sunshine. Bring the whole gang — this one’s a family-friendly affair, with ample room for running wild.

This February, leafy Lilydale will come alive for a huge food truck festival yet, all thanks to the minds behind The Food Truck Park. Set to once again eclipse the collective’s regular events in Preston and at Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In, the Food Truck Festival will see the city’s best four-wheeled food vendors descend on Melba Park across five huge days. Running from Wednesday, February 20 to Sunday, February 24, the culinary lineup will represent the most popular food trucks from each corner of Melbourne, with the full lineup set to be revealed closer to the event.

And you can expect to be totally spoilt for choice, with a huge array of vendors slinging everything from burgers and Asian-inspired eats, to vegan fare and craft beers. Here’s hoping for the return of Sweet Lane, too — a festival precinct dedicated entirely to desserts. Rounding out the edible goodness will be a program of art, family-friendly entertainment and other fun, with entry free across the entire festival. It will be open from 5–10pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 11am–10pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Mornington Peninsula wine region produces some mighty fine pinots, and its many producers come together to celebrate these tasty drops every Labour Day weekend. Join them at the Flinders Yacht Club on Sunday, March 10 from 12–3pm and try the best of the bunch. It’s like Pinot Palooza but by the sea. All tasters are included in the $40 entry ticket, as is a Riedel tasting glass. If a taste just isn’t enough, though, glasses and bottles will also be available for purchase.

Apart from the wine, there’ll be pop-up food stalls from George Bass Cafe, Calamari Brothers, Harry’s Conchilia and Flinders Sourdough. You’ll be kept entertained by Melbourne guitarist Rob Papp, and the club’s annual yacht race, which will also take place on the day. Tickets are available online or at the door until sold out.