FOODFRENZY AT FESTIVAL

Kaylene Girgenti and Kara Giles outside the hugely popular Mamma's Cucina food stall and Tayla Collins-furber at the Italian Festival Hair and Fashion Extravaganza.

THE 2021 Australian Italian Festival in Ingham was a resounding success if food sales were anything to go by.

Festival director Ann Vardanega said although organisers were yet to tally the number of festival-goers, Mumma’s Cucina ran out of food – twice. She said the first item to sell

out was quail on Saturday afternoon necessitating a military-style resupply of ravioli and gnocchi for the Saturday night and Sunday hordes of partying patrons.

“The verbal feedback that we got from visitors was that everybody was really happy … I just think everybody was just happy to get out and go to an event honestly,” she

said. “The entertainment was great, people loved the (new) pavilion, they loved the atmosphere, and of course the food.

“That’s what the festival offers: food, entertainment and somewhere to sit and enjoy the experience.”

A bold plan to move Friday night’s Australian Italian Festival Hair and Fashion Extravaganza from the

Hinchinbrook Shire Hall to a massive marquee at the Tyto Entertainment Precinct reaped rewards, with all

350 tickets selling out by Monday afternoon.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto and Maddyn White emceed the evening featuring hair creations by Justine’s Hair Design, Ladah Hair and Maddie’s Hair Bar, and the latest

fashions from boutiques i Love, Menz and Lisa Maree, JAXX, Bird Tribe and Bellero. There were also sustainably sourced outfits from budding fashion designers from Ingham State High School.

Check out all the photos from the event on the Hinchinbrook page of the Townsville Bulletin’s website.