Gascoyne Food Festival

Credit: Gascoyne Media

High class event in the making...

Gascoyne Development Commission (GDC) started working closely with the Gascoyne Food Council (GFC) in 2024 to grow the festival from a humble annual event attended by mainly locals into a high-class tourism event that promotes, supports and celebrates our local farmers.

As a volunteer organisation, the demand of operating the food festival had been challenging due to capacity constraints, funding and operational support. GDC has been able to support the GFC on an operational level but also at a strategic level to guide the festival in a stronger, more sustainable direction.

GDC amplified the existing headline support from Tourism WA and provided in-kind support including staff resourcing, logistics planning, and marketing coordination, all while working closely with local partners including GFC, Shire of Upper Gascoyne, Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Shark Bay, Shire of Exmouth, sponsors, suppliers and event holders.

Dedication and collaboration

This collaboration from event holders, and enduring support from local producers and stakeholders like Real Futures, Carnarvon Community College, Gwoonwardu Mia, Sweeter Banana, LoveApple and Carnarvon IGA has been able to turn the festival into a top event on the Gascoyne calendar with exciting growth anticipated over the next few years.

The Gascoyne Food Festival has since attracted some big-name chefs including former NOMA Head Chef Ben Ing, Fervor’s Paul ‘Yoda’ Iskov, food influencer Jenna Holmes aka Pasta Mama, Italian Chefs Daniela and Attilio Maiorano, as well as celebrated local chefs like Bullara’s Toby and Maree Fisher.