If you prefer cheese and wine to chocolate eggs, then the Sunshine Coast is the place to be this Easter. The region will play host to the Kenilworth Cheese, Wine and Food Festival on Easter Saturday – a free event which kicks off with a cheese rolling competition, followed by gourmet cooking demonstrations.
Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (SCDL) CEO, Simon Ambrose, said his organisation has teamed up with accommodation providers to offer some special deals to coincide with the event.
“We’ve been working on a number of Stay and Play packages that combine the region’s top sporting, food and cultural events with great accommodation deals. The Kenilworth Cheese, Wine and Food Festival is the first of many iconic coast events that will feature as part of our Stay and Play campaign in 2014,” Mr Ambrose said.
It’s not only cheese and wine that will be on the menu over Easter. Mr Ambrose says there’s a range of cultural and outdoor events taking place.
“On Easter Sunday, Maroochydore will be transformed into a multicultural mecca as part of the Ocean Street World Festival which will include local Kabi Kabi dancers, Greek folk singers, a Latino rock band and North African drummers – as well as cuisine from all corners of the globe,” he said.
Lake Kawana will be another ‘hot spot’ during the Easter break, thanks to the 2014 Australian Dragon Boat Championships. Hundreds of competitors from across the country will take to the lake in teams of twenty to paddle their impressive dragon boats to the finish line.
Mr Ambrose said that surfers will also have reason to head to the Coast in April.
“What many people might not know is that the Sunshine Coast is home to Australia’s second longest running surf contest – the Pa and Ma Bendall Surf Classic, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary,” he said.
The surfing contest began in 1974 and has attracted some big names over the years including Wayne (Rabbit) Bartholomew, Simon Anderson and Hawaiian legend Gerry Lopez.
Other Easter events include the Faraway Easter Endurance Ride to be held in the Mary Valley attracting riders from around the country and Easter in the Garden – an open garden event to be held at the Shambles in Montville. The garden will throw open their gate on Easter Saturday and Sunday.
For more information on Stay and Play packages go to:www.visitsunshinecoast.com.au/stayplay