The annual Herb and Chilli Festival is coming back to Wandin for its 12th year. Take a drive out to the Yarra Valley and challenge your taste buds. This year, the festival will have its largest amount of vendors yet, with almost 100 businesses serving up intriguing flavours from the herb and chilli realm. On top of the food trucks and market stalls, there will also be live music, competitions, cooking demonstrations and kids activities. The festival will take place on March 16 and 17. Will you be able to handle the heat?
Herb and Chilli Festival
Ever since it started in 2012, passionate growers and chilli enthusiasts have come together to celebrate the many herb and chilli varieties. There will be over 80 stalls to explore, showcasing flavours from West Africa, Tibet, Cambodia, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and more. You’ll find an array of hot sauces, rubs and herb mixes, as well as non-consumable products like clothing and accessories.
If you need some liquids to stay cool, wander over to the Beer Garden for local wines, beer, gin, alcoholic slushies and more. Of course, if you’d like to keep things spicy, there will be some interesting creations, like chilli beer, to discover.
If you’d like to improve your cooking, check out some amazing chefs create their favourite dishes in a variety of cooking demonstrations.
Take part in different challenges and events over the weekend. Eat spicy wings, take a shot of tequila with a side of hot sauce, and join the ultimate Captain Chilli Competition. Fight through three heats, trying chillies from mild to painful. The winner will become the reigning Captain Chilli.
The Herb and Chilli Festival will have plenty of music and live entertainment, including tunes from 6-piece band the Harmaniax.
The kids will have heaps of fun too, with pony rides, face painting and a jumping castle.
There is parking available on-site, but if you’d rather take public transport, you can with the festival’s Chilli Express Bus. This bus will complete trips from Lilydale Station every half hour from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and returning from 10am to 5pm. Bus tickets are $10 return.