Boasting nearly 2500 followers on Facebook in its ninth year of running, the Longwood For The Love of Ale festival is widely celebrated as a top community event.
Event organiser Jade Shiner has been involved since day one, when discussions were first had at the Longwood Football Netball Club.
“We just wanted to showcase what we have in our region, and we really wanted to utilise other resources instead of our usual co-sponsors that would fund things for the community and the club,” Ms Shiner said.
“We wanted to tap into other sources, and we thought if we could get a festival up and running, we’d be able to get some people to the town.”
While it attracts tourists to the region, the event is ultimately run by the community, for the community.
“We’ve made money to build a new netball court, new changing facilities, new lighting around the area — it is based around the community centre, which everyone uses, it’s not just the football and netball club,” Ms Shiner said.
The event is a market-style festival, showcasing eats, drinks and local businesses.
Attendees will also find live music — played by two local talents as well as a 2000s-style cover band from Melbourne — kids’ activities, paint and sip workshops, and more.
There is even the opportunity for out-of-towners to camp on site, for the cost of a donation to the Longwood Action Group.
Although, with the recent bushfires, it had been a turbulent time in the lead-up to the festival, Ms Shiner said it would always go ahead.
“People were talking about us not doing it but that was never in our vocabulary because we know that it brings the town together,” she said.
“It’s a date on the calendar that can’t be erased.
“We are trying to ensure that the locals get to have fun and unwind. We have a lot of local farmers come to this day, so we just want them to enjoy themselves.”
Ms Shiner added that the community had been instrumental in delivering the event this year, with many volunteering to get the site ready.
The festival will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 2pm to 8pm at the Longwood Recreation Reserve.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or via longwoodforloveofale.com.au/tickets.html
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