This weekend, visitor numbers to the Eyre Peninsula are set to soar with more than 7000 people expected to flock to the township of Ceduna to take part in the much loved ‘Oysterfest’.
Seafood masterclasses, craft beer tasting and a chance to see the Melbourne Cup trophy up close are all part of the offerings at this year’s iconic Oysterfest in Ceduna.
Oysterfest, now in its 29th year, continues to showcase the Eyre Peninsula’s premier food and wine produce, hospitality and stunning locations.
The festival is expected to attract over 7000 people over the October Long Weekend, with half of visitors travelling from interstate and intrastate.
Acting Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Pisoni said the festival was fast growing its national profile, continuing to highlight the very best of fresh seafood, art, music, culture and entertainment.
“This event is one of those events that offers something for everyone, from the kids with fun activities through to the adults who can entertain themselves with tasting local wines, some oyster shucking and live music to round out the day,” Minister Pisoni said.
Mark Olive (aka The Black Olive), a chef for over 30 years, is expected to be a crowd favourite. The host of his own television series “The Outback Café”, who was chosen for a visit by Oprah Winfrey during her “Ultimate Experience” tour to Australia in 2010, will hold four cooking demonstrations over the weekend.
Other highlights of the weekend include the sold-out Feast of the Gods dinner, a night of culinary delights showcasing the flavours of the Far West Coast complete with wine pairings, a VIP Melbourne Cup experience in a special catered marquee on the Ceduna Foreshore, plenty of live entertainment and a fireworks display on Sunday night.
The event has received funding through Events South Australia’s 2019/20 Regional Events and Festivals Program.
South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) Chief Executive Rodney Harrex, said regional events like Ceduna Oysterfest were an important part of the SATC’s long-term strategy to increase tourism across the state.
“This is a great free annual event that continues to grow and attract visitors to the amazing West Coast, with each dollar spent helping the local community, and getting South Australia closer to its $8 billion visitor economy target by 2020,” he said.
Ceduna Oysterfest will take place from 4 – 6 October 2019. For more information, visit:
