Childs Play at Yalumba Festival Garden

It was a time of mythical characters like the Barons of the Barossa and Vintage Queens in their regal robes and dirndls – red teeth giving away the true contents of their silver goblets – colourful ribbons flying from freshly painted white maypoles; parade floats adorned with giant papier-mâché wine bottles; kids in mop-hats and pinafores playing marbles.

While the noughties made way for a new, more sophisticated Barossa, focusing on high quality local produce and gourmet food and wine experiences, this year’s Yalumba Festival Garden, held on 15 April 2015, plans to recreate the enchanting days of old, celebrating the magic of the season through the eyes of a child.

After hosting ten successful Harvest Markets, during the Barossa Vintage Festival, Yalumba will again offer the high-quality culinary delights that visitors have come to expect on the winery's rolling lawns surrounded by century old buildings – but with a distinctive new focus on good old-fashioned family fun, as part of the Festival Garden

“Yalumba is committed to the region’s food and wine culture but we thought it was time to reinvigorate the event for a younger generation of locals and visitors,” Event Manager, Steve Lindner said.

“With more of a focus on family friendly activities, we have organised a number of exciting new events for people of all ages, including kids pottery classes, junior cooking classes with Rosa Matto, face painting, cooperage exhibitions and live music.”

Although food won’t be the sole focus of the event this year, a smaller producers market, themed around the concept of a family picnic will keep punters fabulously satiated and refreshed.

“A selection of local producers and artisans will also be displaying and selling their wares, including many of the region’s favourites from the Barossa Farmers Market.”

For those a little too old to get into Rosa Matto’s cooking classes, a highlight of the Yalumba Festival Garden will be a cooking demonstration and long table lunch with award winning chef Jordan Theodoros from Peel St restaurant.

“The Hill-Smith family have always been extremely generous members of the Barossa community, opening their home at Yalumba to a number of local family events over the years, including Carols By Candlelight,” Steve said.

“The Yalumba Festival Garden is really a celebration of this community spirit – giving all Barossans – but especially our youngest Barossans – and visitors, a chance to create their own Vintage Festival memories.