Lara Food and Wine Festival to return

THE Lara Food and Wine Festival will return to the Pirra Homestead next weekend for the first time since 2019.

The festival is a showcase of local food and wine produced in the region, with a range of entertainment for the whole family.

More than 70 exhibitors will be at this year’s event, including beer, cider and winemakers, cheesemakers and vendors serving up desserts.

Celebrity chefs Gabriel Gaté and Simon Toohey will be on hand for the live cooking demonstrations.

The all-day music stage will provide entertainment with performances from the Reed Street Band, Wildflower Trio, and the Lara Big Band.

Masterclasses will also take place, including talks on cheese, cocktails, coffee, and gin.

Lara Food and Wine Festival committee member Tara Iacovella said the event had a very relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere, with something for everyone.

Children will be well-entertained with a doughnut eating competition, face painting and the ability to pot and keep their own herb.

Several gate prizes will also be up for grabs.

“Our gate prize is fantastic,” Ms Iacovella said.

“First prize is a $1,000 travel gift card sponsored by Geelong Travel.”

A range of vouchers for gourmet food, local restaurants and cafes will also be handed out for the lucky winners.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic rug and enjoy lunch on the lawn of the Pirra Homestead, located at 108 Windermere Road, Lara.

The Lara Food and Wine Festival will be held on Sunday, March 24 between 10am-4pm.

Tickets are available now online at events.humanitix.com/lara-food-and-wine-festival

Tickets are also available at the gate, with entry free for children under the age of 18.

Children can enter the doughnut eating competition at the Lara Food and Wine Festival.

The festival will feature a range of produce from across the region.