By NICOLE WILLIAMS
BERWICK Village will draw in the big crowds next year with a food, wine and music festival set to shut off the street.
Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce (BBVC) is in the early stages of planning the event, and is calling for all traders in Berwick Village to get involved.
BVCC president Harry Hutchinson and chamber members are hoping the event will revitalise Berwick and bring thousands into the shopping strip.
“A lot of people out there want to support Berwick,” he said.
“A food, wine and music festival is ideal for us. We have the venue and energy to do it.”
The chamber is proposing the two-day festival, on a date to be decided, which will see High Street closed to traffic and 5000 to 10,000 people flooding into the street, with hopes to increase the number attending to 20,000 in coming years.
Outdoor trading will get local businesses onto the street and guests will have a chance to taste local food and wine as well as experience performances on a central stage.
Mr Hutchinson said the inspiration for the festival came from an annual jazz event held in Wangaratta, which has proved successful for local traders.
“It is not just for foodies, but general retail and other business to promote Berwick as a whole,” he said.
Chamber member and owner of Bing Restaurant, Clinton Blanchard moved from Wangaratta to Berwick and immediately saw the potential.
“When I first moved here and looked at the street, I thought what a great opportunity. High Street has that great atmosphere,” he said.
“We need to utilise what we have here.”
Mr Blanchard said the event could also bring the traders together with a common goal.
“The shops are struggling and this type of event can raise the morale of the village and hopefully bring everyone together,” he said.
“This is a chance for us to stick together and put something on that is absolutely amazing.”
The BVCC has partnered with the Rotary Club of Berwick and Rotary Club of Casey and has the support of the City of Casey and VicRoads.
Mr Hutchinson said event management students from Monash University would also be involved in the event.
The chamber is currently looking into funding options.
It is the first event of this size to be held in Berwick for over a decade, after the previous success of a family fun day.
