The Metung Village Green transformed into a vibrant hub of entertainment, shopping and culinary delights on the weekend of June 28, drawing large crowds of all ages for the East Gippsland Winter Festival event.
Festivalgoers were spoiled for choice with an extensive array of winter comfort foods
and at least five dedicated coffee vendors keeping the crowds warm.
For the adults, the Bancroft Bay Distillery mobile bar proved highly popular, serving boozy hot gin toddies, classic G&Ts,
and specialty cocktails.
Meanwhile, younger attendees lined up for marshmallow-topped hot chocolates, sausages, popcorn and pink fairy floss.
Adding a unique touch to the foreshore, the distillery featured two clear, transparent “igloos.” The booked-out structures — one catering to a couple and the other accommodating three people — offered a premium dining experience with dedicated table
service overlooking Lake King.
A major highlight of the day was the return of the annual Dumpling Eating Competition, hosted for its third year by Doin’ Dumplings. Guided by an energetic master of ceremonies, the junior division kicked off with high tension as families shouted encouragement from the sidelines.
The stakes were raised significantly for the adult division, where contestants had to battle through a massive volume of dumplings heavily loaded with chilli, coriander and sauce. The ultimate winners walked away with custom trophies, cash prizes, dumpling packs, crispy chilli oil and coveted local bragging rights.
Community safety was also in the spotlight, with the Metung CFA bringing a vital fire readiness message to the Village Green. In a relaxed, festive environment, residents and visitors were able to chat with local volunteers, try on firefighting gear, sit behind the wheel of the truck for photos, and collect essential information packets to help prepare their households for the upcoming
summer fire season.
The festival grounds featured an array of live entertainment, including a crowd-pleasing performance by Wacky Wombat Entertainment’s bubble maestro, who used custom ropes and buckets to create massive, intricate bubble displays across the lawn. Nearby, an impressive live demonstration by BK Carving saw a large log transformed into a detailed pelican sculpture using a chainsaw.
The finished piece was auctioned on the day to the highest bidder, Bancroft Bay Distillery, who is now calling on the local community for suggestions to name the new
pelican mascot.
As the sun set over the water, the successful day concluded with a community lantern walk along the lake’s edge. Participants carried a mix of personal lanterns and custom-made creations crafted by the students of Metung Primary School, lighting up the foreshore to close out the
winter celebration.
Metung Village Green to share vital summer
fire safety messages.
