Ginger Factory Flower & Food Festival
More than 7500 people flocked to The Ginger Factory for the 24th annual Ginger Flower & Food Festival. Jolene Ogle discovers what all the fuss is about.
Despite regularly using my annual pass to The Ginger Factory (a must-have for those of us with little ones), I have never actually been to the Ginger Flower & Food Festival! I decided to fix that and as I herded the kids through the entrance, past the gift shop bursting with ginger treats and into the main pavilion of The Ginger Factory where I was struck by the buzz of excitement.
The 24th annual Ginger Flower & Food Festival was in full swing and the iconic venue was bursting with green thumbs, foodies and people like me who are keen to see what the excitement is all about.
The kids enjoyed a ride on Moreton the train and chased the gingerbread man around the world on the Overboard ride, but we also loved the chance to learn all about bees, pick up new cooking tips, explore the tropical gardens and see some of our favourite local chefs in action.
The Ginger Factory Tourism Manager Brenda Bailey said this year’s festival brought together people from across the region to explore and discover local foodies, chefs, producers and products.
“As the face of the Buderim Ginger brand, the event allows us to educate people on the use of Buderim Ginger products, showcase our amazing tropical gardens and reinvigorate our connection with the local community and The Ginger Factory,” Brenda said.
Local federal member Ted O’Brien officially opened the festival on the Friday morning, and said events such as the Ginger Flower & Food Festival were integral to ensuring the Sunshine Coast put its best foot forward.
“Events like this showcase the best of our region and we should never be shy in putting our best foot forward,” he said at the opening.
“The fact that over 7,500 people enjoy this festival says it all. It showcases not just our natural beauty but also the entrepreneurship of our foodies, gardeners and an iconic company that goes from strength to strength.”
Many avid ginger lovers return to the festival every year, but 2020 brought an abundance of first-time visitors. As Brenda explained, visitors seemed to love the “real gingery adventure for the senses”.
“The engagement for our visitor experience extended from buying a ginger plant, tasting ginger products, divulging a ginger scone and dining on a ginger beef taco,” she said.
The Ginger Flower & Food Festival will celebrate 25 years next year and Brenda said event-goers should be prepared for an event that is bigger and better than ever.
Stay tuned!
Want more?
Visit The Ginger Factory website for more information and to keep updated on next year’s festival.
