By KATH GANNAWAY
THE next few weeks are peak festival time in the Yarra Valley with plenty of opportunity for communities and visitors to kick back, enjoy great food, great music and great venues of the valley.
The Herb and Chilli Festival in Wandin on 14-15 March is a chance to try tasty and novel food, wine and beer, listen to live music and learn how to cook with, grow and use herbs and chillies. Visit www.herbchillifestival.com.au .
Rock Berry Jam at the Wandin East Reserve on 21 March is the Valley’s newest open air rock concert. Featuring a classic big-name line up including Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaite, The Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson, Jason Singh and The Flaming Moes, it’s a fully licensed 18-plus event. Visit www.rockberryjam.com.au .
Ecotopia Junction Community Festival brings the Yarra Valley Parkslands at Yarra Junction to life on Sunday 22 March with a full day’s celebrating of ‘Home-grown in the Yarra Valley’.
Activities include a feast of live music, featuring rap artist Joelistics and other fine bands throughout the day, environment-focused activities and demonstrations, locally grown produce, the famous recycled fashion parade and hands-on activities for the kids. Visit www.ecoss.org.au .
Upper Yarra Museum’s 2015 Crank Up is on 28-29 March at Yarra Junction with loads of demonstrations and activities from the competition woodchop and wood-turning to vintage steam engines, stalls, willing history buffs to chat to and old-style refreshments. Visit www.upperyarramuseum.org.au .
