Event of the Year - Nominees

In 2025, Korumburra took up the opportunity to host the South Gippsland Garlic Festival at its showgrounds. On Saturday 8 March, the festival saw over 4,800 patrons come through the gates with 30 per cent of the attendees being from outside Gippsland. 

The Garlic Festival brought together growers, chefs, food lovers, and community to celebrate the humble garlic bulb. There were over 90 stalls packed into the showgrounds, with food vendors offering artisan garlic themed dishes and meals highlighting the diversity and quality of local produce. 

At the center of the event was the Garlic Festival Kitchen, where local chefs gave cooking demonstrations for a variety of garlic-related dishes. The Festival Bar also gave local drink producers the opportunity to have their product sampled by the wider community. The rest of Korumburra’s food and hospitality sector also took part in the festivities, offering their own garlic spin on their traditional offerings.  

The interest in the event resulted in a significant economic boost for Korumburra, with local purchase activity increased by 116 per cent over the weekend – especially in the businesses alongside Commercial Street. 

The South Gippsland Garlic Festival proudly gave back to the community groups that played a vital role in making the event a success, donating a total of $6,000 across several local organisations. Beneficiaries included the Korumburra Lions Club, Arawata Landcare, Korumburra Men’s Shed, Arawata Community Hall, Korumburra Scouts, and the Korumburra Bena Football Netball Club — each of which contributed time and effort to support the festival.

The 2025 festival marked an exciting milestone as it was hosted in Korumburra for the very first time, where it was warmly embraced by the local community. The event proved to be a fantastic celebration for local producers, stallholders, and visitors, delivering cultural vibrancy and economic benefits to the region. It showcased South Gippsland’s rich agricultural heritage and strengthened connections between producers and consumers.

Thanks to its overwhelming success, Korumburra is already looking forward to welcoming the 2026 South Gippsland Garlic Festival, promising another opportunity to celebrate local produce, foster community spirit, and boost the regional economy.