I was having a look through this year’s CERES Harvest Festival program and it’s getting really big. CERES’ most joyous day has become almost country fair-like and as always it’s grounded with an undercurrent of thanksgiving for the food we harvest, cook and eat week in and week out.

The first thing I always do at Harvest Festival is head straight to the baking competiton marquee. The spread is a total highlight and the decorations have to be seen to be believed (that’s one of last year’s cakes pictured above). This year the harvest themed cake competition (judged by Betty Burgess from the Country Women’s Association) includes home produce and preserves.  And despite CERES’ reputation as a centre of community harmony and co-operation this is as hotly contested an event as you’ll see in any of this great city’s sporting stadia this season.

Also this year the community feast is back; cooked lovingly by members of the CERES Tamil Community Cooking Team, the feast for 200 people (with options for vegetarians, vegans and those who prefer no gluten) will kick off around 1pm.  It’s a ridiculously cheap $10 and the food is really, really good.  The Cooking Team regularly make lunches for the very lucky CERES staff during the week.

And there’s more food, talks, music, stalls of all kinds and kids bush cubby building in the morning – where you can make a rustic lean-to to hang out in.

So if you only go to CERES once this year, go once this Saturday, 21st March from 11am-3pm.  Entry $5 for adults, free for kids.  Read more …