Images: Chilli Fest Willunga
Looking to spice up your weekend? Well, the Fleurieu Peninsula has something you’re going to love. This Saturday and Sunday, the beloved Chilli Fest Willunga is making a grand return to Willunga Recreation Park, with a paddock-to-plate ethos and all things hot, spicy and delicious.
Event Coordinator Heather Williams has been involved with the festival for almost a decade after ‘inheriting’ it from a group of locals. “I always say we inherited the Chilli Fest,” shared Heather. “A local nursery had been running a chilli festival for about 15 years. They decided it had become too big for them and they no longer wanted to continue. I happened to talk to the right person, and that’s how it moved from the nursery to our premises at the Recreation Park as a fundraiser for that space, eight years ago.”
Heather calls it “a chilli festival that’s designed for chilli lovers.” This year, they’ll have stalls set up indoors and out, with a beer garden and something for everyone, “even the designated drivers, as I call them. They’re often the ones who come along reluctantly, so we make sure there’s something for them too.”
There will be a wide variety of plant sellers, giving you the chance to explore different varieties of chillies “One gentleman comes from up near Virginia and likes to cross-breed and develop his own varieties, so you never quite know what you might get there,” said Heather. Plus, out in the beer garden, there will be food trucks, sangria and a huge variety of dishes that perfectly pair with the chilli indoors.
Chilli Fest will also be bringing back the popular chilli-eating competition, run by personality Chilli Philli. He runs a heat in every state, followed by a national championship, where the winner represents Australia at the US Championships. This year, they’ve also added a Hot Hat competition, where you can decorate a hot hat and let the crowd decide the favourite.
Joining the party will be speakers across the weekend, sharing their tips on how to cook with chillies, grow chillies and perfectly use artisan sauces in your day-to-day cooking. There won’t just be chilli artisans either, onsite, there will be a jeweller, a knife maker and a chopping board maker.
Heather herself is a local and has been running festivals in the region for more than ten years. With Chilli Fest, she focuses on a paddock-to-plate approach, where attendees can learn about and make the most of what’s on offer.
The locals get in on all the fun too, so if you’re heading down for the day or the weekend, make sure to check out the local cafes, pubs and shops and keeo your eyes open for an extra spicy treat.
So, from chilli-eating championships to artisan producers and plenty of spice-filled inspiration for your own kitchen, this much-loved Fleurieu festival proves there’s far more to chilli than just the heat. Head down this weekend to experience the fun!
Chilli Fest Willunga
When: Saturday, February 21st and Sunday, February 22nd, 10am to 4pm
Where: 2 Main Rd, Willunga SA 5172
Price: $10 donation at the door
For more information, click here.
