May 3, 2018
 
The Otways village of Forrest proudly hosts our annual festival of soup, every year on the Sunday of the Queen’s Birthday public holiday long weekend.
Started in 2006 by the Forrest Lions Club as a competition between club members to see who could make the best pumpkin soup, the Forrest SoupFest has grown into a festival with some 5000 visitors, local market stalls, live musical entertainment and fundraising activities by local community groups.
The 2018 festival will be held at the Forrest Recreation Reserve (the local footy oval), providing festival goers with a relaxed atmosphere in bush surrounds, to savour the hot soups, explore market stall goodies, listen to local musical acts and soak up a fun community celebration.
Join us! Enter the soup competition or the other competitions best pickles, preserves, home brew, and biggest homegrown vegetable. Eat soup provided by the Forrest food businesses, bring the kids to enjoy loads of kids’ activities, and learn about making stock, fermenting winter vegetables and the health benefits of eating warm foods and soups in the cooler months.
The Forrest community has always been a village with a healthy respect for the natural environment in which we live. We are very conscious of our proximity to the fragile ecosystems of the Otways temperate rainforests and coastline, which we are privileged to enjoy and protect.
Climate change brings new challenges which relate to all sectors in our community – farmers and food producers, parks and water catchment managers, mountain bikers, tourism, small-business, schools and services. The Forrest community understands and embraces the need to positively and sustainably manage the interface between humans and our natural environment. This requires conversation and connection, and there is no better way of coming together to do this than over a delicious cup of soup.
Our Festival reflects our lifestyle and we encourage you to care for our country too. We aim to become a ‘waste free’ festival, so please:
  • bring your own mugs and cups for soups and coffee/tea (washing up stands will be available);
  • take all your waste away; and
  • learn and share ideas about sustainable living.
Sunday June 10, 2018 – follow us on Facebook (Forrest SoupFest 2018) to learn more about entering the competitions, exploring our town, who’s performing and showcasing their goodies and more.