Whisk yourself away to the coast this January for the Portarlington Mussel Festival. Every year, 30,000 people journey to this seaside town to celebrate and try their delicious mussels. On top of the famous seafood, there will be market stalls, wine tastings, exhibitions, cooking demonstrations and entertainment, and in 2024, it’s all happening on Saturday, January 13.
Portarlington Mussel Festival
What started as a street festival in 2007 has grown into one of Victoria’s most popular community festivals. Set against the backdrop of Portarlington Beach, you’ll be able to peruse over 200 stalls, serving up cooked mussels, local produce and wares. After that, head over to the pier and check out the mussel boats in action, as they’ll be selling fresh mussels for you to take home.
The festival will also feature local beer and wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, classic car displays and exhibitions featuring local art and photos. Throughout the day, local musicians will take over multiple stages, with performances from Queen Forever, Soul Sister Swing, Jimi Hocking, Trojan, and many more. The kids will also have plenty of fun, with heaps of roving entertainment to discover.
Getting there via Port Phillip Ferries
As in previous years, Port Phillip Ferries will sail directly from Docklands to Portarlington Pier, dropping you off in the heart of the festivities. Their Mussel Festival package include return tickets from Docklands and express entry into the event, so you can avoid both the traffic and the crowds. There will be multiple services running throughout the day, so you can stay at the festival for as little, or as long, as you like.
Ferry packages cost $42 for adults travelling to and from Docklands, with family packages (two adults, two kids) available for $120. Otherwise, if you’d prefer to drive straight to the festival, it’s $5 entry for adults. For more information about the ferry services, click here.