THE community is invited to join the Kilcunda community association for their annual Kilcunda Lobster Festival on the town foreshore on Sunday, January 26 with market stalls, live music, and amusement rides to entertain the entire family.
The first incarnation of the festival was the ‘Back to Kilcunda’ weekend long event held in 1984 as part of Victoria’s 150th anniversary celebrations and the Kilcunda Lobster Festival was born the following year after a good supply of lobster was available from the waters of Kilcunda and from fisherman in San Remo.
Former president of the Kilcunda community association, Andrea Bolch said the town gathered to welcome back past residents, miners, and school students to the town of Kilcunda after the local school was closed – miners would dress in their uniform, community members dressed in period costume – parading down the main street. The three-day event brought people back to the small town, they would partake in a bush dance at the local hall and children would dress up and ride their bikes down the main road.
It’s no longer a three–day event but the annual festival continues again in 2025, welcoming the community to gather and connect, and partaking in the historical spinning wheel remains the highlight of the festival, giving everyone the chance to win a freshly cooked lobster.
The day is 100 per cent entirely run by volunteers who have this year organised 50 market stall holders – showcasing their range of quality food, produce, wine, gin, whiskey, jewellery, clothing, homewares and metal art.
Throughout the day, the crowd will be treated with emergency service displays, children’s face painting and amusement rides from Taylors Amusement. In conjunction with the festival, the YMCA will again be holding their annual skate competition at the foreshore skatepark.
A smoking ceremony by proud Traditional Owner Steven Ulula Parker from Millowl Dreaming will welcome the community to Country.
Entertainment will be provided by DJ Classic Wax and live band The Slowbrew.
“Throughout the day we will be selling lobsters supplied by San Remo Fisherman’s’ Co-Op, as well as lobster lunches and prawn rolls,” said KCA Secretary Stephen Piper.
There is copious undercover seating for patrons to enjoy their meals in.
With the annual event held on the Bass Coast coastline, the association is again working closely with support from Bass Coast Shire Council, and sponsorships from Bendigo Bank and Westernport Water.
The association actively manages waste at the public event with guided waste stations – a system that significantly reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.
“At last year’s festival with the efforts of the volunteers and the Bass Coast Shire Council, we successfully divided organics from recycling with zero contamination,” said Stephen.
“We’re encouraging everyone to bring their own water bottles to re-fill from the Westernport Water hydration stations.”
As part of the waste minimisation drive to reduce the use of single-use plastics, the San Remo Fisherman’s’ Co-Op will continue to use reusable containers filled with ice for fresh Lobster delivery.
The spinning wheel will be on the back of the truck - remember each spin always results in one lucky winner walking away with a lovely freshly cooked lobster.
The festival will run from 10am until 3pm on the Kilcunda foreshore on Sunday, January 26.
For more information visit the Kilcunda Lobster Festival on Facebook or visit kilcunda.org.au.
