The Norwood Food & Wine Festival returns with a fresh twist, featuring a festival of footy atmosphere, live entertainment headlined by The Temper Trap, and an array of food and drink offerings. Join the festivities on April 7th and experience the best of South Australia's culinary experiences.
The Norwood Food & Wine Festival: A Vibrant Celebration of South Australia's Culinary Delights
( Credit to: Nationaltribune )
The Norwood Food & Wine Festival is set to make a comeback in South Australia with a fresh twist. This year, the festival will feature a vibrant "festival of footy" atmosphere and a major headline act. On Sunday, April 7th, from 11 am to 8 pm, festival and footy fans will gather along a significant stretch of The Parade, from Portrush Road to Osmond Terrace. This coincides with the second AFL Gather Round match at Norwood Oval, where Richmond will take on St Kilda.
The festival will showcase an expansive lineup of live entertainment, headlined by Australian indie act The Temper Trap. Known for being the only band to have ever performed at two AFL Grand Finals, The Temper Trap is expected to draw large crowds to the Norwood precinct. Alongside the live music, the festival will also feature some of the state's best wine, beer, and spirit producers, joining the local bars, cafes, and restaurants in offering an afternoon of festivities in true South Australian style.
The Norwood Food & Wine Festival is free to enter and will include big screens along The Parade and within venues, broadcasting AFL games for attendees to enjoy. This reimagined festival aims to deliver a major economic boost for the local community by showcasing the state's food, wine, and produce to capitalize on the influx of visitors expected for this year's AFL Gather Round.
A Vibrant Fusion of Food, Wine, and Entertainment
Participating local traders include popular establishments such as arkhé, The Bath Hotel, 30 Acres, Amadio Wines, and Argo, offering a wide range of culinary delights from fresh seafood to charcoal-fired dishes, lavish desserts, and unique cocktails. The festival will also showcase premium South Australian producers, wineries from across the state, Fair Seafood, Pirate Life, other bespoke breweries, and regional distillers like 23rd Street Distillery.
In addition to the food and wine offerings, the Norwood Food & Wine Festival will feature a Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel cooking demonstration stage hosted by celebrity chef Callum Hann. Local musicians, the Dusty Lee Band and Motel Music, will also be part of the entertainment lineup.
Last year, the inaugural AFL Gather Round contributed over $83 million to the South Australian economy, generated over 150,000 visitor nights, and attracted 268,000 fans to matches, including more than 40,000 people from interstate. This year, the AFL Gather Round matches have been selling out quickly, with only a few tickets remaining for the match between Collingwood and Hawthorn. However, the AFL will release a limited number of tickets for all matches on Thursday, March 21st, at 1 pm local time.
An Exciting Fusion of Food, Footy, and Festivities
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas expressed his excitement about extending the AFL Gather Round festivities beyond the CBD. He stated that the Norwood Food & Wine Festival will showcase the best of South Australia's culinary experiences, live music, and roving entertainment. The festival aims to draw crowds beyond the sell-out matches at Norwood Oval and celebrate the state's offerings.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon also expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming Gather Round event, highlighting the unprecedented level of interest and demand. He mentioned that the Norwood Food & Wine Festival is expected to be one of the highlights of the festival and expressed his excitement about having The Temper Trap on board to kick off the festivities.
Mayor City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters, Robert Bria, emphasized that Norwood Parade will be at its best for this exciting event. He welcomed locals and visitors to experience the variety of bars and eateries across the flagship dining precinct. Mayor Bria also mentioned the significant economic impact the festival had last year, with over $2.2 million spent on hospitality in Norwood alone during Gather Round.
Join the Festivities and Experience South Australia's Culinary Delights
The Temper Trap's lead singer, Dougy Mandagi, expressed the band's excitement about performing in South Australia during Gather Round. He mentioned that the band loves coming to the state, which is known for its love of festivals, good times, and of course, footy. The Temper Trap looks forward to continuing their collaboration with the AFL and playing in Norwood during this exciting event.
Overall, the return of the Norwood Food & Wine Festival promises a day of entertainment, delicious food and drinks, and a celebration of South Australia's culinary experiences. With the AFL Gather Round matches already selling out, the festival offers an opportunity for locals and visitors to join the party on The Parade and be part of this vibrant event.