As the name suggests, Wine and Food in the Park is the perfect opportunity
to take a day out to relax and enjoy some of the South Burnett's best regional
produce.
Against a backdrop of live music and street theatre, the festival - which
is one of the largest of its kind in south-east Queensland - features the
PCA South Burnett Regional Cuisine Cook-offs, a giant wine tent and vibrant
food court.
My Government through our Toward Q2 initiative is determined to protect
Queensland's lifestyle and environment. That's why we support events such
as Wine and Food in the Park through the Queensland Events Regional Development
Program.
This program has provided more than $11.5 million to over 548 regional events
since it started as a world-first initiative in 2001.
Anna Bligh MP,
Premier of Queensland
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These events bring in business, create jobs, attract tourists, fuel growth
and prosperity and give a tremendous sense of pride for the local host
communities.
Across the State, thousands of individuals, community groups, local councils
and in some cases entire towns put countless hours into ensuring their events
are a success.
The Queensland Government shares the passion and the achievements of the
State's regions through this program. Enjoy Wine and Food in the Park and
I hope you will have an opportunity to discover more of Queensland's great
events in the coming year!
A Message From The
10th March 2009: This year, people who come to watch the 2009 PCA Regional Cuisine Cook-Offs at Wine & Food In The Park will also be helping the victims of the recent Victorian bushfire disasters. The reason is that because the format of the Cook-Offs has changed a little this year, the prize money that is normally set aside for the chefs and appentices who usually compete is now going to be given to the Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal, along with a top-up corporate donation from the Peanut Company of Australia itself. "All Austrlians feel for the bushfire victims," a PCA spokesman said, "and PCA was going to make a donation the same way most of the South Burnett already has. But when we realised we had some extra cash set aside for the Cook-Offs, we thought it would be a good idea to add that in as well. This will help make it a special gift from the 2009 Festival". The PCA Regional Cusine Cook-Offs will be running from 11:00am to 4:00pm in the giant PCA tent near the Festival's Food Court. Admission is completely free and if you love mouth-wartering food and wine dishes prepared in front of your eyes, not to be missed!
7th March 2009: There's always something different at Wine & Food In The Park every year. And in 2009, another new thing we're introducing is a CD Tent for the musical acts that will be performing on the Main Stage. Thanks to modern technology many of the bands who'll be performing on Festival day now produce their own CDs. But since they aren't backed by record labels, these CDs are usually very hard to get unless you order them by mail or happen to be attending one of the band's gigs. So to help our bands (and also help Festival-goers who really like any particular band), all the bands who have CDs will be selling them from a special tent that will be set up next to the stage. Some CDs - like Paul Greene's "Distance Over Time" - have already sold 30,000 copies and are regarded as classics. And others - like the Blues Excuse's recently-released "Terre Rouge" - have only been available for a few weeks. But they're all good. And they're a really great way to take a part of Wine & Food In The Park home with you to enjoy again and again any time you like!
4th March 2009: Over the last 11 years Wine & Food In The Park has grown to become one of the South Burnett's best-loved annual events. In fact, lots of people now use the Festival for big "back to Kingaroy" get-togethers with friends and family. Why? Because Wine & Food In The Park is a really great day out. And because it's also a terrific way for us to show off the things that really make us proud of the region we live in. And this year - thanks to the Internet - you can now get to meet and interact with other Wine & Food In The Park fans online through 
1st March 2009: Wine & Food In The Park has always had a great Exotic Food Court - but this year we're going all out by hosting our biggest Food Court ever! In 2009 the Festival Food Court will be offering everything from Spanish tapas and paellas through to vegetarian feasts, seafoods and Dutch pancakes, sweet and sour confectionery, baked potatoes, gourmet ice-creams and coffees. They'll be supplied by perennial festival favourites like the Hare Krishnas, Mamminos Ice Creams, the Butterfly Country Kitchen, Senor Paella and Roll & Roast (as well as several who've never been to Wine & Food In The Park before!). The multi-award winning Kingaroy Cheese will also be on hand in the Giant Wine Tent with their enormously popular cheese platters too. But in another first for the Festival, this year two South Burnett schools will also be setting up shop in the Food Court to take on the professional food vendors with locally-made South Burnett treats to help raise funds for badly needed school extras. "We're really excited by this year's food line-up," Festival Food Director Peter Eaton says. "We've gone all out to put together the best line-up of foods we can, and we've had to expand the Food Court area to accommodate it. So all I can say is: bring your appetite with you!"