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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-04-29 Daily Xml
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Norwood Food and Wine Festival

Ms O'HANLON (Dunstan) (15:45): The Norwood Food and Wine Festival—what an absolutely magnificent day it was on The Parade for the 2025 Norwood Food and Wine Festival. There were already so many superlatives needed after last year's festival and now this year's has surpassed that which I thought could not be surpassed. Over 90,000 people came together to celebrate the best of what South Australia has to offer, turning The Parade, our Parade, into a vibrant tapestry of food, wine, music and community spirit.

It was truly a sight to behold, with more than 50 local traders, from Parade stalwarts Danny's Thai and the Bath Hotel to more recent Parade institutions Africola Canteen and 30 Acres offering a diverse array of delicious food and so many of our leading South Australian wineries, breweries and distilleries putting their passion and creativity on full display.

From the South Australian Wine Producers Bar, which showcased a diverse selection of wines from across our state's renowned wine regions, to Pirate Life Brewing and 23rd Street Distillery, there was quite literally something to entice every person there, because everywhere you turned there was something wonderful: delicious food, world-class wines, the buzz of laughter and conversation, people dancing in the street, and that unmistakable feeling that you are part of something very special.

The pop-up bars brought their own style and flair, and the excellent line-up of DJs kept the energy alive all day and into the evening—and how fantastic was it to have Birds of Tokyo headlining, an ARIA Award winning band right here in Norwood? The atmosphere of the Food and Wine Festival was even more electric thanks to the perfect location of Norwood Oval. We are so fortunate to have an oval of this standing situated right on The Parade. After the Gather Round game played there, people left the footy already in a fantastic mood, full of energy from the excitement on the field, and practically stepped straight into the festival. It created this seamless, joyful celebration that just kept building all afternoon and evening. You could feel the sense of happiness and pride radiating through the crowd.

One of the great things about this year's festival was how it catered for everyone. Even the footy fans not at the Gather Round match were looked after, with AFL games broadcast live on big screens throughout the precinct. It meant no-one had to miss a moment; they could cheer on their team while soaking up the incredible festival atmosphere at the same time.

After the festival, I spoke with a number of our local traders and their feedback was overwhelming. Outstanding local bar and restaurant Arkhe told me that it was one of the best days of trading they had, and they certainly did not run out of wagyu burgers this time. Rimu from local cafe Pavé said the same. Other traders told me just how much this event means to them, not just in terms of a boost in business but also in terms of the pride they feel in showing off their craft to locals and visitors alike.

Many said it was one of the best days of trading they had ever had—each and every one. The success of this year's festival is more than just the incredible turn out; it is a testament to the power of major events to drive jobs, investment and pride in our community and across South Australia. When we come together to celebrate what makes our state so special—our food, our wine, our talent, our people—we create something that is bigger than the sum of its parts. The truth is that it is no surprise that the energy on The Parade was so infectious after The Parade recently garnered international acclaim, being featured in Time Out magazine's list of the 38 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, the sole South Australian suburb on this prestigious list.

The success of the Norwood Food and Wine Festival was an incredible reminder of the renowned South Australian hospitality and our very own brand of coolness. I have no doubt it left a lasting impression on everyone who was there. It is events like these that show the heart and soul of our community and the extraordinary passion of our producers, chefs and small businesses.

For me personally, I just felt an overwhelming sense of joy. I am so proud to have been part of it. I know I am not alone in feeling an enormous sense of gratitude for everyone who made the Norwood Food and Wine Festival 2025 such a massive success, from the traders, the entertainers, the organisers and, of course, everyone who came along and made it a day to remember. To all of you, I say thank you. I already cannot wait for next year.

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