New Beachport Crayfish and Wine Festival earmarked for March 2022

After being lost at sea more than a decade ago, the revival of a regional food and wine festival is set to taste test the region’s celebrated crayfish and wine.

A South East seaside town is bringing back a food and wine festival showcasing its famous South East Rock Lobster and the fruits of the nearby Coonawarra vineyards.

The new Beachport Crayfish and Wine Festival is earmarked for March 4-6, 2022, encouraging visitors to stay and continue exploring the region ahead of the Adelaide Cup long weekend.

Inspired by the Beachport Festival By The Sea which has not run in more than a decade, Wattle Range Council tourism and events officer Tamara North said the new event was in the early planning stages.

“We are revamping it and making it bigger,” Ms North said.

“The festival will incorporate a crayfish ball similar to what they used to call the fishermen ball, a formal dance on Friday night.

“Then Saturday there will be wines, crayfish tastings, music throughout the full day in the main street of Beachport and we’re looking at having something happening in the evening and having a farmers market on the Sunday.

Wattle Range Council tourism and events officer Tamara North has unveiled plans for Beachport Crayfish Festival in March 2022. Picture: Jessica Ball

“It’s literally going to be a weekend full of crayfish and wine.”

Ms North said the council had a renewed focus on tourism with $13,000 committed to the event in the draft 2021/22 Annual Business Plan and Budget.

“When the Great Vic Bike Ride came through in 2019, it showcase just how important events are to the community, bringing money in, bringing people to town and bringing people back to the communities,” she said.

“Especially with Covid and not many tourists around, it’s a great time for council to step up and commit to events.”

The event announcement comes during a difficult period for the South East Rock Lobster industry but local fishing families have pivoted with out-of-the-box thinking like The Lobster Pot Beachport which opened last year.

The shopfront and processing facility sells the Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative’s catch and has been serving up creative ways to get people eating crayfish.

The shop has also been crafting experiences to entice tourists like picnic boxes and build-your-own lobster sandwiches.