Herb and Chilli Festival in the Yarra Valley

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Sat 19 Mar 2022 - Sun 20 Mar 2022

The Herb and Chilli Festival returns for its 10th year in 2022, offering a wide array of international cuisines, music, competitions, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment.

Celebrating all things hot and spicy with over 80 stall holders, some of whom have been with the festival since its inception, you can expect to see plants, fresh herbs, rubs, jams, spice mixes and - of course - a whole lot of chillies.



Crowd favourites Slap Ya Mama and Plough to Plate return this year. Slap Ya Mama provides the finest Cajun spices and Pepper Sauce and will be serving Cajun Fish Fry, Seafood Boil and Etouffee sauce for visitors to try on the day. Plough to Plate offers a selection of Southern European products, such as chilli jelly, Ajvar, antipasto peppers and more.

There will even be chilli themed beverages for patrons to try, including Logan's Micro Distillery's special Thai venom vodka, or a hot chilli wine from Disaster Bay chillies .



Get your dance moves on at the entertainment stage, with a variety of genres to get visitors grooving. One of the entertainment drawcards is Sydney-based act Psycho Zydeco with their unique blend of Cajun, blues and swamp. Affectionately named 'The Psychos' by their fans, the band is inspired by the sounds of New Orleans and Louisiana. Local jazz and blues singer-songwriters Garry Marr and John Rees will also take to the stage.

A visit to Hot Sauce Alley is a must for all chilli fiends. Hot Sauce Alley is where you'll find what organiser Clive Larkman describes as "the absolute hottest sauces in Australia". The deadly line-up of hot includes Blonde Chilli's death sauce, Hells Breath, Danny Balboa's Sauce Co and many more.



There will also be an international food court, with more than 20 food stalls. While enjoying the spicy dishes, punters can soak in the atmosphere of the four main stages providing them with exciting entertainment, live cooking demonstrations through to dancing and music, between 11:00am and 4.30pm.

On the live cooking stage, chefs and cooks will share their favourite recipes. Alongside the live demonstrations will be action-packed food challenges, such as the popular 'Captain Chilli competition'. This competition requires entrants to consume the hottest food items in the quickest time, guaranteeing some eye-watering moments. The same stage will host the Lucha Fantasica Mexican wrestlers who will demonstrate their astonishing skills. Another highlight of the festival is the Australian Chilli Cook-Off where teams cook a big batch of American-style chilli and are judged by specialists and public votes.

The Herb and Chilli Festival welcomes everyone to experience the event at their own pace. There will be something for adults, kids and even the family dog. Kids can be kept entertained in the free kids' zone with face painting, pony rides, jumping castles and a petting zoo. The event is dedicated to welcoming foodies of all ages.

As a memento of the day, each ticketholder will receive a free herb and chilli growing e-book and a plant.

The Herb and Chilli Festival will take place from 10am - 5pm on 19-20th March 2022, at Romantic Nursery, 125 Quayle Road, Wandin.

Tickets are adult - $27, concession/student - $22, children under 14 FREE, family (2 adults, 2 under 18yo) - $70. Click here to buy your tickets online. Pre-purchase is recommended.

All images supplied.

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#day_trips
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#march
!date 19/03/2022 -- 20/03/2022
%wnmelbourne