A WHOLE village concept has made the Great Trentham Spudfest boom.
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Spudfest fun spilled out from Quarry Reserve into events, stalls, markets and live music along Market and High streets for the first time in the festival’s 10-year history in a bid to bring the whole town to life.
It is a return to what many Trentham locals say Spudfest was about in the first place – showing off the town and fostering community pride.
High Street trader Michelle Bergelsohn said the move had made a massive difference, boosting business, with festival-goers now taking a time to explore Trentham shopfronts amid Spudfest fun.
“We used to watch 5000 people walk past our shops in the morning and 5000 people walk past at the end of the day but this is a huge difference,” Ms Bergelsohn said.
“The whole town is included in the festival this year and it helps expose what we do, hopefully encouraging people to want to come back.
“...This is what Spudfest should be for the town. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
The Trentham and District Historical Society ran Spud Hut tours from the town square, where there were also cooking demonstrations for spudspiration.
Trentham’s railway precinct was alive with a tractor pull, wood chop and plenty of shine from Cool Country Classic Car Club.
A horse and dray took festival-goers on a special ride between event precincts. Jazz music was peppered throughout.
Chief Spud, or Spudfest convenor, Helen Macdonald said the whole village concept had created a wonderful vibe. Ms Macdonald said while there had been a small working party behind the event, it had taken almost 100 enthusiastic local volunteers to really pull off the whole village concept.
At the centre of it all was the humble spud.
Local grower Bernie White said it was fabulous to meet so many people from across the region, and as far as Melbourne, keen to buy fresh potatoes. He has proudly watched the event grow from about 1500 to more than 7000 festival-goers the past decade.
Majestic highlight on growing ‘freshest’ demand
SPUDFEST founder and ambassador Bernie White says there is a growing demand for fresh produce among savvy shoppers.
Mr White said the region’s potatoes had long been at the centre of Trentham event, but festival-goers had been increasingly taking an interest in the spud itself – and its origins – since Spudfest began a decade ago.
“Everybody likes to come to Spudfest and get potatoes so fresh from the soil and there are so many varieties to pick from now,” Mr White said.
“There really is a growing interest in buying direct from the producer, which is great.”
Purple Majesty was top pick this year, popular with festival-goers for its high antioxidant properties, vitamins, proteins and rich colour, according to Mr White.
READ MORE: Hard times on Trentham spud farmers