Unearthing the Pyrenees

Western Victoria’s love affair with wine and food celebrations will continue later this month when patrons gather in and around Avoca for a Pyrenees Unearthed festival.

The festival features a blend of wine, art and garden events including the iconic Avoca races on the Anzac Day weekend of April 21 to 25.

Pyrenees Unearthed works closely with neighboring Grampians Grape Escape, which features monthlong attractions through April, culminating with a weekend festival on May 6 and 7 at Halls Gap.

Organisers are promoting Pyrenees Unearthed as a chance to ‘discover a piece of France in the heart of Victoria’.

The Pyrenees region features many towns and villages but Avoca will host the majority of events.

Pyrenees Unearthed will come alive from April 21 with a Pyrenees pub night, where people will have access to street food, live music, boutique beers and a hawker market.

April 22 adventures start at a Mount Mitchell Estate Garden event where patrons will have an opportunity to look over historic vehicles, art and photography while exploring the grounds of the homestead.

A three-day Avoca art exhibition and sale in Avoca Town Hall will start on April 22 and there will also be an exhibition by landscape artist Mal Gilmour at Railway Station space, Gallery 127.

Avoca Community Arts and Gardens will also present its Artists Award Gala evening on the Saturday.

Sunday activities include opportunities to visit Avoca Riverside Market stalls en route to the feature event of the weekend, the Avoca Wine Festival, where officials will unearth wines from 17 district wineries. Festival-goers will also be able to get their ‘passport’ to Tour de Pyrenees on the Monday with cellar doors open to allow them to experience food, music, master classes and more.

Activities on April 25 will include an Anzac dawn service at Avoca RSL followed by Anzac Day races. People can find out more about Pyrenees Unearthed by visiting website www.pyreneesunearthedfestival. com.au.