Chip chip hooray! The home of the Big Potato will once again be the staging ground for the Robertson Potato Festival – an opportunity for spud lovers to celebrate all things potato! Taking place over two days from May 6 – 7 at the Robertson Showground in the heart of the Southern Highlands, this event promises to be bigger, better & potato-ee-yer than last year with lashings of entertainment in the form of even more music, competitions and food options than last year! 

This ‘spud-tacular’ event has a yam-packed schedule featuring:

The popular ‘Hessians on the Field’ is making a return featuring the new ‘Pets on the Field’ category. The fashion show unlike any other, with contestants displaying clothes made from the humble potato sack will now be able to strut their stuff next to their favourite non-humans in their paw-tato outfit. Prizes include two Singer sewing machines as well as cash prizes from Hill Family Potatoes and the chance to be dubbed the ‘hottest of hot’ potatoes. 

Live music will be featured on both days, set to start from 10.30 am each day, headlined by Russell Morris and The Radiators, with other leading acts including Finn MacCool, Nick Rheinberger, Ross Webb & Rusted Track and Gretta Ziller.

Attendees will have the chance to be a spec-tater and learn from the very best of local and national chefs with potato-based cooking demonstrations from the likes of Paul West (ABC’s RiverCottage), Stefano Marvello (Italian Cooking Experience), Eilish Maloney (The What If Society) and Matty Roberts (Eschalot Restaurant). 

Local breweries and distilleries will be displaying their wares with distillery SoHi Spirits to have a stand displaying their Potato Crisp Vodka. Made for martinis and a side of crisps, SoHi uses local potato royalty to ensure their vodka has more texture, viscosity and crunch than their competitors. Wollongong based Five Barrel Brewing will be launching their new Potato Sparkling Ale at the festival and is being brewed using locally sourced potatoes from Hill Family Farming. Samples, bottles & cans will be available for both.

The Spud-a-Dome will be hosting a feast of events, competitions and performances over the weekend including mash eating competitions, peeling, stacking and picking events. There will also be rides available for all the ‘small fries’ as well as free face painting and an animal petting and feeding farmyard. Dance performances from local dance school DanceEd Performing Arts will be held on both days. For those wanting a bird’s eye view of the spud-tacular event, scenic helicopter rides will be running allowing attendees to take in the potato fields and picturesque scenery from a different angle.

There will be displays of Old Farm Machinery with working engines and a classic vintage car show & shine that are sure to a-peel. New extended classes including wooden spoon making and mead brewing makeup additional activities visitors can book and take part of.

Festival organiser Gary Fitz-Roy says, “Last year’s event had so many things that didn’t go to plan, namely the weather, but overall it was still a great success. This year we are looking to build on the great foundation we laid last year by introducing new experiences, like the helicopter rides and animal petting farmyard, and expanding the number of competitions, activities, food trucks and entertainment & music options.” 

Fitz-Roy also commented, “The nationwide shortage of potatoes recently has highlighted how much we love the humble potato and how it really is a staple in our lives. It really does have the potential to help the local area whilst celebrating a daily food we love and in Robertson’s case, something we are known for.” 

Event Details:

Robertson Potato Festival

WHEN: 6 – 7 May, 2023

WHERE: Robertson Showground, 2315 Kangaloon Rd, Robertson (just under 2 hours from Sydney)

As parking is limited on-site, there will be a free shuttle bus running from Robertson town loop every 20 minutes. More info.
The festival is calling for volunteers to help on the days of the festival. To chip in and get involved, visit www.potatofestival.com.au and log your interest.