Kilcunda Lobster Festival returns for their 37th year

THE community are invited to join the Kilcunda community association for the 37th annual Kilcunda Lobster Festival on the town foreshore on Sunday, January 29 with market stalls, live music, and amusement rides to entertain the entire family. 

The first incarnation of the festival was the ‘Back to Kilcunda’ weekend long event held in 1984 as part of Victoria’s 150th anniversary celebrations and the Kilcunda Lobster Festival was born the following year after good supply of lobster was available from the waters of Kilcunda and from fisherman in San Remo. 

President of the Kilcunda community association, Andrea Bolch said the town gathered to welcome back past residents, miners, and school students to the town of Kilcunda after the local school was closed – miners would dress in their uniform, community members dressed in period costume - parading down the main street. 

“The three-day event brought people back to the small town, they would partake in a bush dance at the local hall and children would dress up and ride their bikes down the main road,” said Andrea. 

“It’s no longer a three–day event but the annual festival continues again in 2023, welcoming the community to gather after unprecedented cancellations, and the historical spinning wheel remains the highlight of the festival, with the chance to win a freshly cooked lobster.” 

The day is run 100 percent by volunteers who have organised over 40 market stall holders showcasing their range of foodstuffs, wine, gin, whiskey, jewellery, clothing, homewares and metal art.

Throughout the day, the crowd will be treated with emergency service displays, children’s face painting, and Rain, Hayne & Shine farmyard who will be on the foreshore grounds, giving the children a hands-on experience with friendly farm animals.

Crowd entertainment includes rides from Summer Amusement and performances from musicians Paul and Tom, followed by Eric Collier, and Mojo Jacket.

A smoking ceremony by proud Traditional Owner Steven Ulula Parker from Millowl Dreaming will commence at 11.30am welcoming the community to Country.

“Throughout the day we will be selling lobsters supplied by San Remo Fisherman’s’ Co-op, as well as lobster lunches and prawn rolls, plus a classics BBQ tent,” said Andrea.

With an event held on the Bass Coast coastline, the association are working closely with sponsorships from Bass Coast Shire Council, Bendigo Bank and Westernport Water to manage the waste at the public event with guided waste stations – a system that will significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.

“At our last festival held in 2020 with the efforts of the volunteers involved in the festival and the Bass Coast Shire Council, we diverted 54% per cent of our waste from landfill. Festival goers filled two organics bins and ten recycling bins - of which had zero contamination,” said Andrea.

“It was a significant reduction in waste to landfill and we want to improve that effort this year by again using hydration stations – so we’re encouraging everyone to bring their own water bottles to re-fill and re-use. Thanks to the support from Westernport Water.”

As part of the drive to reduce the use of single use plastics, the San Remo Fisherman’s’ Co-op will replace the polystyrene containers with re-usable containers filled with ice for fresh Lobster delivery.

The spinning wheel will be on the back of the truck with tickets available from $4 or three for $10 – each spin is a winner, and one lucky winner will walk away with a lovely freshly cooked lobster.

The festival will run from 10am until 3pm on the Kilcunda foreshore on Sunday, January 29, for more information visit the Kilcunda Lobster Festival on Facebook or visit kilcunda.org.au