Words: Susie Williams

Proudly brought to you by Coast Lines magazine

This August, the Fleurieu Peninsula transforms into a food-lover’s dreamscape as the Fleurieu Food Festival returns with a month‑long lineup of sensory delights. From farm-fresh experiences and vineyard feasts to chefs’ masterclasses and coastal indulgences, this regional celebration brings our community together around shared passions: delicious seasonal produce, outstanding local crafts, and warm hospitality in breathtaking settings.

Why It Matters

The festival is more than a gastronomic showcase—it’s a platform for connection. Visitors and locals alike slow down to appreciate where their food comes from: wandering through olive groves, sipping wine around fires, and discovering the artisans behind the region’s world-class fare. It’s also a vital boost for local businesses during quieter winter months, shining a spotlight on accommodation providers, farms, cafés, and wineries.

Highlight Events – A Few Must‑Book Experiences

Farmers & Winegrowers nights at Ivybrook Farm (Maslin Beach)

On Friday nights (15 and 22 August), step into Ivybrook’s historic stone barn. Enjoy gourmet pizzas and share platters featuring local produce, paired with Ivybrook wines, beers, ciders and live music. Dress in your best farmer’s gear or wear your favourite wine‑grower attire and celebrate the region’s proud agricultural traditions—all for a modest $10 entry.

Fire & Spice at Battle of Bosworth (Willunga)

Gather around long tables for an afternoon of paella cooked over fire, accompanied by organic wines, live music, and a ritual barrel burning. Explore the “Birds of Bosworth” a SALA exhibition in The Ruin.

Alpine Shed experience at Poppelvej Wines (Willunga South)

Imagine après-ski vibes without the ski boots. Inside the winery shed, enjoy Arnaud the raclette master pouring molten cheese over fresh bread, local charcuterie, gelato, mulled gløgg, Poppelvej wines, warm fires, and even a chance to win best retro ski outfit.

Taste of the Coorong paddling tour (Hindmarsh Island)

On 15 and 16 August, paddle serene waters, forage for native bush ingredients, and enjoy a freshly cooked fish‑burger on the sand—complete with warm drinks and storytelling. A peaceful, winter‑deepening experience.

Chef‑led dinners & masterclasses

• • The Fun‑ghi’s Dining Experience (8 August, McLaren Vale): A seven-course mushroom-focused feast by Chef Kane Livingston in a vineyard‑adjacent restaurant.
  • Taste of the Fleurieu (8 August, Vale Restaurant & Bar): Chef John Rankin’s four-course banquet showcases local lamb, beef, game, mushrooms, and more, paired with seasonal wines.
  • Tides & Tannins (31 August, Langhorne Creek): A sumptuous afternoon at Bremerton cellar door blending coastal and viticultural flavours in one collaborative feast.

The Seafaring Collaboration (16 August) and Peninsula Providore Long Lunch (24 August) round out the festival with waterfront feasts and long-table elegance.

Workshops, Tastings & Market Moments

But it’s not all grand dinners. From pasta-making at Cut Hill Distillery and mozzarella workshops at Lot 50, to seafood banquet pairings, confectionery classes, haloumi-making, steak masterclasses, and fermentation sessions—there truly is something for every taste and skill level. And don’t miss the Willunga Farmers Market, where producers serve up tastings and live demonstrations throughout the month.

Community & Connection

Beyond eating and learning, the festival is a celebration of community. Events like Food & Fashion with Flair at Miss Gladys on Sea merge flavour with style. Family-focused experiences like Aqua Blue’s Beachside Boil in Normanville, and stories starring women in farming and fishing communities, reinforce the heartwarming social impact running through the festival.

A Winter to Remember

This festival isn’t just another date on the calendar—it’s a season of shared stories, deep flavours, and a reconnection with the land that sustains us. Whether you’re paddling through the Coorong, shucking oysters by the sea, melting cheese in a Willunga winery shed, or mastering mozzarella, the Fleurieu Food Festival unites us with a sense of place and seasonal rhythm.

Pull on your scarf, book a table (or a kayak), and let August on the Fleurieu feed more than just your appetite—let it warm your soul.

Bookings & details:

Visit your local Visitor Information Centre or check fleurieupeninsula.com.au/whats-on/fleurieu-food-festival. Listings close soon—don’t miss out on the region’s most delicious month of the year!