April 26th, 2024Spudfest: celebrating all things potato
For one weekend every autumn, Trentham is all about the humble potato.
The Great Trentham Spudfest is a community festival that brings together potato growers, artisans, music, food vendors and history to showcase the region’s finest offerings and products. The festival is on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5.
“Spudfest 2024 promises to be bigger and brighter than ever before, celebrating our region’s potato culture and history, but most of all, our community,” says festival coordinator Kye Theobald.
“Spudfest is still a free event (but) we are also introducing some specially curated events that will require a ticket. Celebrating our great potato region across two days is a great opportunity for visitors to stay and plan a full weekend of discovery with friends and family.”
On Saturday, May 4, Trentham comes alive with Spudfest’s traditional carnival day, with four main precincts in town packed full of spud food, fresh regional produce, artisan makers, live music, horse and cart rides, and loads of activities for kids and adults alike.
Visitors can also join a Trentham & District Historical Society led bus tour of the old heritage-protected Spud Huts.
Local farmer and fourth generation spud grower Luke Wicker, right, will be at the Railway Precinct on Saturday selling his Kennebec, Nicola, Dutch Cream, Pontiac, Sebago and Kipfler potatoes.
“There has been a Wicker growing potatoes in the red volcanic soils around Trentham for over 100 years,” says Luke.
Saturday evening will see the inaugural Spudfest Cèilidh, a celebration of Celtic music, food, and dancing, at The Factory on Market Street, with catering by Emma James Catering. Tickets for this event can be purchased via the Spudfest website.
Sunday is dedicated to the discovery of food, produce, and region. Kicking off at 10am is Spudfeast, with spudtastic dishes on offer in a progressive dinner style at venues throughout the region including The Cosmo, Trentham General, Trentham Food & Wine Co., Daylesford Cider, Aterics, Blackwood Hotel and many more.
Four local farms will be conducting tours all day Sunday, inviting visitors behind the farm gate. It’s a chance to meet and hear from growers at Fleurs de Lyonville (organic flower farm), Walden Park (humanscale, regenerative, and agroecological beef), Mountain ViewGarlic (a small family-run garlic and fresh produce farm), and Little Hampton Farm, where you can discover organic cherries, berries, veggies, and heritage apples.
You can also make your own way along the self-guided Farm Gate Trail to unearth growers’ fresh produce and hidden foodie secrets or take part in The Great Spud Scavenger Hunt, join a Historical Society tour of the Trentham Cemetery or head to the RedBeard Bakery and its 133-year-old Scotch oven.
Link: www.trenthamspudfest.org.au
