A vibrant festival celebrating Swiss Italian culture is taking over a small town near Melbourne. Take a day trip to the picturesque Hepburn Springs, and look forward to plenty of delicious food and wine, as well as walking tours, live music, fireworks and more! The Hepburn Swiss Italian Festa will run from Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25.
Hepburn Swiss Italian Festa
This fabulous event celebrates the Italian-speaking Swiss migrants, who first came to the Hepburn Springs and Daylesford region during the 1850s gold rush, and left behind a lasting legacy of food, wine, architecture and culture. The first festa kicked off in 1993, and has since grown into one of the most distinctive cultural celebrations in Victoria.
The festivities will kick off with a Heritage Dinner at the Swiss Mountain Hotel, where guests can enjoy a two-course Italian menu, while celebrating the people, stories, food and traditions that shaped the town.
On Friday, take part in a guided walking tour, showcasing architecturally significant sites around Hepburn Springs, starting from Villa Parma and ending at The Old Macaroni Factory. This experience comes with an Italian-style drink and snack. In the evening, kick off the weekend with celebrations at the Hepburn Palais, with live music from the Bella Ciao Band.
Saturday is the main event, with a full day of celebrations taking over the Mineral Springs Reserve. Look forward to live bands, entertainment, performances from local schools and cultural activities. Treat yourself to a bit of pizza or gelato, sip on coffee and look forward to other Swiss Italian favourites. Then, try out a traditional Italian dance, and take part in a Tarantella world record attempt. The night will end with a spectacular fireworks display at 8pm.
Stick around on Sunday for tours of The Old Stonehouse, along with bocce on the lawn, bullboar sausages and homemade cakes. Linger around Hepburn Springs and check out its local eateries and shops, with venues offering their own special offers and experiences for the festival.
Some events are ticketed, while others are free to attend. To see the full program, click here.
What else can you do?
You can’t visit Hepburn Springs without trying its mineral waters. Taste it yourself from one of the pumps around the Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve, pamper yourself with a dip at the historic Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa or relax even further at The Mineral Spa.
For more Swiss-Italian culture, drive less than ten minutes away to Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, where you’ll find historic stone buildings, rows of lavender, and cute animals like geese and Highland cows.
Head next door to Daylesford for lakeside walks, a bustling Sunday market, boutique shops, delightful eateries and more wellness experiences.
Hepburn Springs is just a 90 minute drive away from Melbourne, making it a great spot for day trips and weekend adventures.
