Garlic festival scents a new future

IT’S hardly surprising that the Meeniyan Garlic Festival topped more than 7000 visitors, locals and out-of-towners, in 2019.

It was modelled on the famous Gilroy Garlic Festival in California which, until COVID-19 struck, attracted more than 100,000 people annually.

They’re definitely not trying to emulate that at Meeniyan but, after a two-year lay off for the dreaded lurgy, it’s back, on Saturday, February 18, 2023.
And, signalling a new era for the event, the festival committee is advertising for an ‘Event Manager’ to take the festival forward.

“We seek a person with experience in staging entertainment events and working with local community groups and volunteers in a not-for-profit context. The position will be filled on a contract basis commencing September 1, 2022.”

Chairman of the Meeniyan Garlic Festival, its founder David Jones, says it’s a good sign.

“From 2017, when we started, it grew quickly to become what Visit Victoria calls a ‘significant event’ and it’s part of the evolution of these festivals that you look to take it on to a more sustainable footing by appointing an event manager,” said David this week.

“Our fantastic committee will still be fully engaged, and we’ll still be relying heavily on our volunteers but after five or six years, the event has become more complex and needs year-round activity.”

While the peak of activity for the festival is December to February, there’s still lots to be done at other times.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to attract Visit Victoria funding again, and this will enable us to add some key developments this year.

“We’re offering the opportunity for our regional food and wine producers to show case their produce including Gippsland’s hatted restaurants and the like.
“It will be the best of Gippsland on a plate and in a glass at the Meeniyan Garlic Festival.”

Mr Jones said the committee was mindful that the region’s winemakers an other produce business operators were busy at home so Meeniyan will this year be offering a professionally-organised produce marquee, featuring all the produce from the area but presented by sommelier and food experts, without the producers themselves having to take a whole day out of their schedule to attend.

“We are aware that many of the people who comes to these events at looking for a high-end food and wine experience and we’re going to provide that, as well as all the other things that have become popular at the Meeniyan Garlic Festival.”

The festival is held in February each year, after the holidays, between the Australia Day and Labour Day long weekends, but after the garlic harvest in November and following suitable curing time for the garlic.

“Gippsland is not a volume producer of garlic. That comes from the more arid areas of NSW and Queensland but together with the Grampians area in the west, we are known for our artisan garlic, regularly in the running for national awards with the area’s flavours really coming through.”

Mr Jones said this year’s festival would be a ticketed event with the support from Visit Victoria reflecting its importance as a gateway food event for the Gippsland region.