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Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is big fun for the little ones

FROM dumplings to burgers and jumping castles to burn off energy, there’s plenty on the menu for kids at next month’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

What’s on in Melbourne in March 2018

FROM dumplings to burgers and jumping castles to burn off energy, there’s plenty on the menu for kids at next month’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

MELBOURNE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL: SPEED DATING FOR WINE LOVERS

MOVIDA TO THROW SPANISH-STYLE LANEWAY PARTY

VEGAN BARBECUE BLOCK PARTY AT MELBOURNE MOONSHINE

HELLENIC’S WATERMELON FESTIVAL

There’ll be smiles as wide as watermelons for this day of fruity
fun at Hellenic Republic’s newest digs in Brighton. Activities include watermelon carving and face painting, plus watermelon drinks
and desserts.

March 18, free entry

ULTIMATE DUMPLING MAKING PARTY

Chopstick your way through DIY dumplings at three yummy classes at Richmond’s OTAO Kitchen for families with children aged 10 and up. Over two hours, learn how to make perfect dough and how to shape the perfect dumpling.

March 16-18, $49-$99

Austin, Aleerah and Diesel prep for the upcoming watermelon festival. Picture: Nicki Connolly
Austin, Aleerah and Diesel prep for the upcoming watermelon festival. Picture: Nicki Connolly

HARVEAST

Ringwood’s Eastland becomes ground zero for the best of the region, with about 80 food and wine producers, a cellar door and beer garden. For the kids, there’s Huxtaburger Junior Burger masterclasses and fun activities on sustainability.

March 25, free entry

RIVER GRAZE

The festival’s opening-weekend River Graze is a family-friendly affair, taking over the banks of the Yarra from Fed Square to the Crown Riverwalk with foodie pop-ups. Kids will be drawn to the AVPN Melbourne Pizza Festival, Sweet Alley with treats from Oddfellows Ice Cream Co in New York, and The Bank of Melbourne Edible Garden where junior green thumbs can be inspired to create their own home vegie patch.

March 16-18, free entry

A boy tucks in at a Huxtaburger masterclass. Picture: Nicki Connolly
A boy tucks in at a Huxtaburger masterclass. Picture: Nicki Connolly

SWAGS, SNAGS AND TUCKERBAGS

Come Waltzing Matilda with a family day trip to Goornong, between Bendigo and Echuca. Relive the history of the iconic Australian story through a marionette show followed by a traditional swagman’s lunch of snags, coal-baked potato, Nan’s slaw and campfire damper.

March 18, $15-$35

INDIAN FESTIVAL MELBOURNE

Queen Victoria Market turns Delhi delight serving Indian flavours and cooking demos with Bollywood beats and arts and craft all weekend. A dedicated kids’ zone will offer dress-ups, crafts, yoga and Bollywood-dancing classes.

March 24-25, free entry or $68 for VIP Foodie Experience

Kids enjoy the edible garden at River Graze.
Kids enjoy the edible garden at River Graze.

THE PENINSULA PICNIC

Roll out the picnic blanket at Mornington Racecourse for a
fab day of music and tunes. Enjoy cellar door tastings, pop-ups from the region’s award-winning restaurants and winemakers,
and a farmers’ market to a musical line-up including John Butler Trio and Harry James Angus from The Cat Empire. For the little ones, there’s a craft tent and pony and carnival rides.

March 17, $21.60-$76.90

DANDENONG WORLD FARE

All the fun of the fare comes to Dandenong Market with global dishes from 50 stalls and food vans, live performances and plenty for the kids including henna hand art, dance shows, rides and a jumping castle.

March 25, free entry

Kids give a big salute to the Dandenong World Fare. Picture: Nicki Connolly
Kids give a big salute to the Dandenong World Fare. Picture: Nicki Connolly

BEST OF THE WEST

Fun for all ages at Footscray’s Plough Hotel, with a gourmet barbecue, ice cream and live music, plus balloons and drawing competitions for the kids. This is a fundraiser for three local primary schools.

March 17, $20-$55

YARRA VALLEY HERB & CHILLI FESTIVAL

Feel the heat in Wandin where Hot Sauce Alley and 40-plus types of chilli will spice up this weekend fest. A kids’ zone will keep them entertained for hours, with a big jumping castle, giant slide, pony rides, petting zoo and face painting.

March 17-18, $18-$65

BOOKINGS: MFWF.COM.AU

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/mfwf/melbourne-food-and-wine-festival-is-big-fun-for-the-little-ones/news-story/c033cefaa29d056d98c8c058cac24a73