Thousands taste the full flavour of the region at Eat the Street

THOUSANDS of people experienced the full taste of Lismore with dishes from India to Italy served up at the Norco Eat the Street festival.

The event returned for the first time in four years, with Lismore City Council estimating a crowd of 10,000 people.

Local vendors served hundreds of dishes throughout the day, with local breweries and distilleries playing a big part in the event.

It featured Asian-inspired dishes, Mexican favourites, Italian classics and vegetarian options.

There was also plenty of entertainment and prize money for pie eating, waiter races and barista competitions.

“This is a celebration of who we are. Our producers, our creatives, our entertainers, and our community all come together to create something truly special,” Lismore mayor Steve Krieg said.

“When Eat the Street first began in 2016, it was an instant success, a simple but powerful idea that brought people together to share good food, good company and the unique culture of Lismore.

“Over the years it became a staple on our events calendar, attracting more than 20,000 people to the CBD to experience our region’s incredible flavours and vibrant local hospitality.”

Eat the Street was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled to find a return date following the floods in 2022.

It returned this year with Norco coming on board as the naming-rights sponsor.

It was also supported by the state government’s Vibrant Streets Package and major sponsor Quikshade.

The state government funding is close to $300,000 and is expected to secure the festival for at least another two years.

“Their commitment to our community has helped bring this award-winning festival back to life,” Krieg said.