The Thorpdale Potato Festival is a beloved community event that celebrates the region’s renowned potato-growing heritage. Since its inception in 1977, the festival has been a much-anticipated occasion, drawing visitors from across Victoria to celebrate all things potatoes.
The Thorpdale Potato Festival began as a way to showcase the town’s thriving potato industry and bring the community together. The first event in 1977 was a success, featuring farming displays, family-friendly competitions, and local produce. It quickly became a biennial tradition, honouring the hardworking farmers of Thorpdale and the industry that put the town on the map.
Over the decades, the festival has grown significantly, introducing new attractions, entertainment, and interactive experiences while staying true to its agricultural roots. After a brief hiatus in the early 2000s, the festival made a triumphant return in 2018, with overwhelming support from locals and visitors. Today, it continues to celebrate the potato industry while offering a fun-filled day for families, food lovers, and festival-goers of all ages.
Proceeds from the Thorpdale Potato Festival are reinvested into the local community through a grants program that supports a variety of projects, fostering the town’s growth and development. In 2023, the festival reinvested $76,000 to support local schools, community groups, sports clubs, and environmental initiatives.
The grants program focuses on projects that promote community well-being, education, and sustainability. By attending the festival, visitors directly contribute to these efforts, ensuring the festival’s impact is felt throughout the year and creating a lasting legacy for future generations.
Media outlets are welcome to use images from our Gallery to support stories connected to the Thorpdale Potato Festival (with attribution). Resources such as flyers and adverts are also available for download.
The festival will take place on Sunday, 9 March 2025 at the Thorpdale Recreation Reserve, Thorpdale, Victoria.
The festival offers a full day of entertainment, food, and unique experiences, including:
Tickets can be purchased online via Humanitix. They will also be available at the gate on the day (cash and card accepted).
A ticket grants access to:
We respectfully acknowledge the Gunaikurnai People who are the traditional owners of the land on which we live and work. We recognise their continued connection to Country and Community and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
