Apples and wine

By Monique Ebrington
GLADYSDALE Apple and Wine Festival is the perfect way to come together as a community and celebrate the end of the apple and grape harvest this May.
The 25-year-old tradition and school fund-raiser is a popular calendar event that will be held on Sunday 3 May.
Gladysdale Primary School Principal Peta Evans said with the February fire threat displacing many families in the community, the festival would be a great opportunity for the community to come together for an enjoyable day out.
“We want to celebrate the festival’s 25th birthday and our local produce,” Peta Evans said.
“We’ve made sure, like always, that there are plenty of acts and activities to entertain the whole family.”
She said the festival was also an important fund-raiser for the 113 student school, with past festivals raising around $20,000 for the school.
“For a school of this size it’s a huge amount and this year we are hoping that the funds raised can go towards new computers and interactive whiteboards for the classrooms,” she said.
The country-style family day gives visitors the opportunity to help taste the local produce and help celebrate the end of harvest.
Visitors can enjoy tasting the new local varieties from the local orchardists’ display and purchase bags of apples fresh from the trees.
Gourmet platters and cheeses can be enjoyed on the grass with a wine or Devonshire Tea before browsing through the craft and market stalls.
There will also be plenty of live entertainment on the day with chainsaw carving demonstrations, clowns and competitions such as the best scarecrow, best apple pie and the heaviest giant pumpkin.
The popular animal farm, go karts, jumping castles, mini golf, archery and a bungee trampoline will also provide plenty to see and do for young ones with.
A grand raffle is run in conjunction with the festival and great prizes, including three nights’ accommodation for two people at Deloraine Homestead bed and breakfast as well as various other prizes. Tickets are only $2 and drawn on the day.
The festival is held in peaceful bush setting in the grounds of the Gladysdale Primary School and admission and parking will be free.
All profits on the day go to the Gladysdale Primary School, so bring the family along and join in the fun at the Apple and Wine Festival on Sunday 3 May between 10am and 4pm at Gladysdale Primary School located along Little Yarra Road, Gladysdale.