Celebrate and indulge in all things delicious across the region

Hop-A-Long Geelong

Presented by Valhalla Taproom, Medusa and Bell Beach Brewery, Hop-A-Long Geelong is a beer festival with a difference.

Spread across six Central Geelong venues and including 12 breweries, you’ll enjoy two beers per brewery, including one special release ‘festival’ beer. Showcasing local and independent craft beer within the beating heart of the City of Geelong, beer lovers will stroll from venue to venue and complete their Hop-A-Long Geelong passport.

Get ready to raise a glass and cheers to a fun-filled day! Don’t miss out – tickets go live Friday 24 February!

When: Saturday 1 April | 12pm – 6pm

Where: Various

Cost: $60

Masterclasses with Union Cellars

Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market - Tastes Edition

Everyone loves a market! Celebrate local makers and growers, pick up handmade goodies and indulge at the Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market!

You’ll find an array of handcrafted items, artisan products, freshly baked treats, and live music. Support your local community and keep your eyes peeled for our roving Junkyard Beats entertainment around the waterfront.

When: Sunday, 2 April | 9.30am–2pm

Where: Steampacket Gardens

Urban Cocktail Trail

To celebrate the art, the craftsmanship and most importantly the fun a beautifully made cocktail has to offer, the Urban Cocktail Trail has partnered with the best bars in Central Geelong for guests to enjoy on a self-guided Cocktail Trail!

How does it work you ask? Rally your friends together and start the afternoon with a bite to eat and an arrival cocktail at your starting location before making your way around the trail to redeem your cocktail vouchers, choosing your favourites from the Signature Cocktail List.

As a self-guided experience where you decide to stop and sip is completely up to you, with participating venues including 18th Amendment Bar (Ft. Pina Clear-Ada), Black Sheep (Ft. Teddy Bear’s Picnic), Edge (Ft. Edge of Paradise), Justin Lane (Ft. Salted Watermelon + Elderflower Spritz), Manhattan Bar (Ft. Strawberry and Bush Honey Collins), Non – Disclosure (Ft. The Long Way Home), Sailor’s Rest (Ft. Mango Mai Tai), The Inn Hotel (Ft. The Inn Sour), There There (Ft. Tokyo Vice) and Westend (Ft. Westend’s Autumn Spritz).

When: Sat 1 Apr | 1pm – 5pm

Where: Various locations

Cost: From $44

In Conversation with Matthew Evans & Anther Gin

Prepare for an unforgettable afternoon

GT magazine food writer, Cam Ward, joins renowned Australian chef, food critic and television personality, Matthew Evans, in conversation with Anther Gin, the award-winning distillery known for their unique blend of botanicals and exceptional gin.

Matthew will share his insights and philosophy on sustainability and the importance of supporting local producers. Anther Gin will discuss the art of distilling and their passion for crafting exceptional gin using native Australian botanicals.

During the event, guests will have the opportunity to meet Matthews Evans and sample delicious Anther Gin.

When: Sun 2 Apr | 12pm – 2.45pm

Where: Geelong Library & Heritage Centre

Cost: $40

A beloved part of the annual celebration is the vast selection of masterclasses on offer, where attendees can learn the tricks of the trade and discover some handy tips from the best local experts.

There are some brilliant masterclasses on offer this year, especially from good humans at Union Street Wine. They’ll be running an Ultimate Guide To Wine Pairing: The good, the bad and the brilliant on 26 March; Cheese & Wine: A match made in heaven on 29 March; Wine 101: Beginners Guide to Wine on 30 March and Geelong Wine: Past, present and the future on 2 April all from their Euopean-inspired wine bar on Union Street.

When: 26, 29, 30 March and 2 April |

Various Times

Where: Union Cellars

Cost: $60

And all that is barely half of it. There’s also a Cannoli Piping Workshop with Cakes and Vases, live painting sites Pinot and Picasso, genuWINE – Geelong’s first natural wine festival, Gelato tasting sessions, goody bags to be filled and Westend Geelong and La Cachette are delivering a sit down with a Master of Wine who will guide attendees through a premium paired wine and food meal, plus heaps more.

With so many activities on offer, it doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned foodie or a newfound food lover, we can guarantee that there will be something new and enticing for your to devour.

See the full program on the Love Central Geelong website.