Growing appetites
TAMWORTH may be renowned for a certain festival held in January each year, but a newer 10-day party is cutting itself a decent slice of the local tourism pie.
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With 50 stalls putting the finishing touches on their culinary creations for the Taste in the Park event this Sunday, council staff have praised the foodie-festival for growing more than just waistlines in the region.
Taste Tamworth is punching above its weight in the region’s festival scene drawing in thousands of overnight visitors to the region, according to organisers.
Barry Harley, Tamworth Regional Council’s manager of events, said Taste Tamworth has “grown exponentially” over the last few years, showcasing local produce.
“It’s very important, because there is a lot of productivity that actually goes on around, which probably gets over shadowed by the massive country music festival in January,” Mr Harley said.
He rated Taste among the top Tamworth events hosted through the year and said its future growth would depend on more businesses capitalising on local produce.
“Where the festival will grow and improve is not necessarily what we do in terms of Taste in the Park or Pop-Up, it’s the encouragement of other private enterprises to get involved,” he said.
Mr Harley said Taste had some catching up to do before it surpasses the country music festival’s lofty numbers, but the 10-day showcase of local food is growing its slice of the tourism pie, enticing a different demographic.
“Taste is important, like other events, like the Nundle Go for Gold in Easter and several other small events, they’re equally as important, because they all put Tamworth on the map for different reasons,” he said.
As rain bucketed down in Tamworth on Wednesday, Taste in the Park coordinator Crystal Vero said it would take a “tropical cyclone” to stop the event going ahead this weekend.
“They can have anything from beef jerky, to lovely pulled-pork sandwiches, to savouries and sweet dishes, great beer and wine,” Ms Vero said.
“I think there will be something for everyone.”
Ms Vero said the event would keep changing the flavours up, as needed, to keep in line with the crowd’s desires.
“There will be some giant board games. There’s going to be a lot more kids’ activities so the families can stay around,” she said.
Ms Vero said the food culture in Tamworth had grown noting there wasn’t a sushi restaurant in town when she moved here five years ago.
Taste in the Park will be held on Sunday, April 30 at Bicentennial Park.
Gates open at 10am and there is a $2 entry fee.