The Thorpdale Potato Festival is a biennial event that celebrates the rich history of potato farming in Thorpdale, a town nestled in the fertile foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in Gippsland, Victoria. The festival offers a fun-filled day for the whole family, featuring music, food, children’s entertainment, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, and the ever-popular ‘potato races’. All profits from the event are reinvested back into the community.

The festival was first inaugurated in 1977 and was held annually each March until 2002. However, due to challenges such as high insurance costs and increased regulatory requirements, the event was put on hold for several years. In 2015, after a 15-year hiatus, a dedicated group of local volunteers successfully revived the festival, attracting nearly 10,000 attendees from both the local area and as far as Melbourne. The revival aimed to fundraise for community organisations and has since been a significant source of support for various local groups.

The festival has continued to grow in popularity, with the 2023 event raising over $76,000, which was distributed among deserving local organisations including the Thorpdale Recreation Reserve, Thorpdale Hall, Thorpdale Primary School, Thorpdale CFA, Thorpdale Bowls Club, Narracan Hall, Thorpdale Football Netball Club, Darnum Primary School, Thorpdale Community News, Thorpdale Tennis Club, Thorpdale Kindergarten, Thorpdale and District Angling Club, Thorpdale Cricket Club, 1st Mirboo North Scouts, Thorpdale Auskick and Thorpdale Playgroup.

The festival not only celebrates the town’s agricultural heritage but also serves as a vital fundraiser, with all profits reinvested into the community through a merit-based grants process.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the next Thorpdale Potato Festival on Sunday, 9 March 2025! Jump online to buy your tickets and be part of this fantastic event.