PREPARATIONS for the 2023 Koonya Garlic Festival are well under way with plans for a bus service to transport patrons. It’s the first time the service will be offered, and will run from Dunalley to Koonya, then run the loop of the Peninsula at selected times through the day and the last run returning to Sorell.
The trial service, if successful, will be included in future festivals. Organisers are also on the lookout for more volunteers. We will have plenty of garlic available for purchase and also plenty of food stalls. Patrons are also being encouraged to dress up as their favourite garlic related character. In previous years guests have come as Dracula or a Frenchman, and organisers hope that everyone uses their imagination and show up in some great costumes.
The “Little Festival with a Big Heart’’ will be held at the Koonya Hall and Grounds on Saturday February 25, from 10 am to 4 pm. The event is ticketed, and tickets can be purchased direct at www. koonyagarlicfestival.org or in person at Ninch Gallery and Cidery, Main Road Nubeena from December on a Friday or Saturday 10am – 4pm.
So far the popular Masterclasses include:
• Sally Wise the bestselling author of several books, including A Year in a Bottle and Slow Cooker.
• Paul Foreman and John X, the ‘Chef and the Showman’.
• Karen Martini – an award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and television presenter. Her food message is drawn from her professional cooking career, her Tunisian-Italian heritage and from the challenges of feeding nutritious and stimulating food to her family
• William McHenry, a master distiller. There will be a gardening Q+A with a panel including Karen Martini, Kate Tier and Florian Bonenfant of Seed Freaks, William McHenry, of McHenry Distillery and Ian Kingston of Tasman Honey.
Organisers say they are now at a stage where money that is made by holding the Festival will be put back into other areas of the Community.
“Last year we were able to donate $3,000 toward upgrades to the Koonya Hall,’’ a spokesperson said.
“We have also been able to start purchasing our own infrastructure that will be used at other events in the community throughout the year instead of having to hire it in for every event.