By Tania Phillips
Summer marks Strawberry season on the Granite Belt – something a brand new Festival hopes to highlight and celebrate.
The new event, which organizer Amy Torrisi hopes will become an annual occurrence, will be held at Weeroona Park on Saturday 13 November.
“Stanthorpe is the Queensland Summer producing strawberry region and so we’re wanting to celebrate that because why not!” Amy laughed.
“I’ve had it in my mind for a little while – wanting to do something that supports some other industries in the region and the strawberry industry in the Granit Belt is growing. I think it’s a good opportunity to support these guys.”
She said there are strawberry farmers based solely in the area as well as others who farm on the Sunshine Coast during the winter and then move their operations down to their properties in Stanthorpe for the summer season.
“A lot of people don’t know that the Granite Belt is the summer strawberry producing area – that a lot of the produce that is hitting the shelves is from Stanthorpe,” Amy explained.
“The festival will be held on November 13 with gates opening at 10 am to celebrate the summer strawberries.”
The boutique event will, according to Amy, have something for everyone from meeting the farmers to masterclasses with some of the region’s culinary masters as well as activities to keep the young and young at heart entertained.
Imagine the simmering aromas of strawberry jam oozing over the festival or the big smokers of the Granite Belt gearing up for the Berry Festival BBQ champion.
She said Weeroona Park be transformed into a boutique affair with Ashbern’s Strawberry Field, Eastern Colour’s Berry Bar, Jamworks marquee and Pinata’s Kids Patch.
“Festival experiences featuring meet the Farmers, masterclasses with the makers, live food demonstrations, eating competitions, interactions with the regions craft brewers, arty-crafty strawberry fun, live music sessions, taste testing and more, you are sure to fall in love with Queensland’s Summer Strawberry at the Stanthorpe Berry Festival,” Amy enthused.
Tickets are on sale via Eventbrite www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stanthorpe-berry-festival-tickets-165373756357
