Iconic festival Curryfest set to serve up a grand comeback in 2021

It became another casualty of COVID-19 in 2020, but excitement is building for the return of a popular Coffs Coast event.

Curryfest is set to make a return for 2021, with Miguel Maestre announced as this year's celebrity chef.

Curryfest is set to make a colourful comeback after it fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to bring back much-needed tourism dollars to the Coffs Coast.

The vibrant festival which celebrates the town’s Punjabi heritage had been running on an annual basis for 15 years until the pandemic unceremoniously forced its cancellation in 2020, along with countless other major events.

Organisers Another Tasty Event released a statement saying it was “physically impossible” to hold Curryfest due to the limit in place at the time for 20 people at outdoor gathering.

Curryfest will return for its 16th year.

“We are never really lost for words, but today we are,” they said.

But now, organisers say the popular event will return bigger and better than ever – bolstered by a $52,000 in grant funding from the NSW Government.

The team has announced Spanish expat and co-host of The Living Room, Miguel Maestre, will be the festival’s celebrity chef for 2021.

Maestre won the Australian public over when was crowned King of the Jungle on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and is also known for TV programs Miguel’s Feast and Miguel’s Tropical Kitchen.

The event is expected to attract more than 15,000 people to Woolgoolga when it is held on September 25.

In announcing the funding for Curryfest 2021 on Friday, Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said the funds would be used for Maestre’s appearance as well as cooking demonstrations and hip hop performances.

“Curryfest began as a community celebration of one of Australia’s largest regional Punjabi populations and has grown to be a celebration of all cultures and cuisines,” Mr Singh said.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh at Woolgoolga Beach Reserve with (from left) Woolgoolga Chamber member Cherie Topfer, Curryfest Committee chair Pam Fayle and Woolgoolga Chamber committee member Sam Newman.

“Now in its 16th year, Curryfest is an iconic annual event that transforms Woolgoolga into a carnival of colours, sights, tastes and sounds, attracting thousands of local and interstate visitors and bringing much-needed tourism dollars to the area.

“It’s exciting to see Curryfest return to celebrate Punjabi heritage and the rich, vibrant and diverse cultures that make up our community,” he said.

The NSW Government’s $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund also helped bring to the Coffs Coast the recent Sharks-Titans NRL match and the upcoming Super W National Women’s XVs Rugby Tournament.