Kalorama Chestnut Festival

Roasting chestnuts are at the heart of Kalorama’s autumn community festival, held at Kalorama Memorial Reserve in the Dandenong Ranges. Food, local stalls and entertainment turn the reserve into a meeting place for Hills families and visitors, while fundraising supports Mount Dandenong Preschool and Mount Dandenong Primary School.

The festival is traditionally held on the first Sunday in May. The 2027 date, hours and programme are yet to be announced, so use the event’s next announcement when planning a special trip.

An autumn harvest with a local purpose

The chestnuts are more than a theme for the food stalls. Local school and preschool families help with the harvest and preparation, linking the day in the reserve with work done by volunteers before the public arrives.

That community effort gives the festival its character. Buying something to eat or browsing the stalls is also a way of supporting the schools behind the event. It is a neighbourhood fundraiser with room for visitors, rather than a large commercial food expo.

Roasted chestnuts, food and market browsing

Chestnuts roasted for eating are the defining attraction, with other food and drink adding to the autumn outing. Previous editions have offered options such as homemade cakes, poffertjes, hot drinks and mulled wine alongside craft and produce stalls.

Leave time to browse rather than treating the event as a quick food pickup. Local handicrafts and produce provide a different reason to stop from the hot-food stalls, while a pause for music can break up the visit. The 2027 stall list and entertainment schedule will determine what is available on the day.

For families, the combination of food, performances and an outdoor reserve allows a flexible visit. Choose a few things to enjoy and allow for queues, rather than promising children a particular ride or activity before that year’s programme is released.

Entry, spending and the reserve setting

Past festivals have offered free public entry, with purchases and parking treated separately. The 2027 access and parking arrangements are TBA. Market-site charges for stallholders are not visitor admission prices.

The reserve is an outdoor venue, so wear shoes suitable for grass and bring a layer for a cool or damp Hills day. If you need a step-free route, accessible parking or nearby seating, contact the committee about the event layout before travelling. A reserve’s ordinary facilities do not establish every temporary festival access arrangement.

Reaching Kalorama Memorial Reserve

The reserve is on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, near Grange Road in Kalorama. Use the reserve as your destination rather than Kalorama Park Lookout, which is a different place.

The organiser encourages bus travel and identifies a stop across the road from the reserve. Plan the actual connection and return service for the festival date. If driving, follow event parking directions and keep driveways and road access clear; do not rely on an old parking fee or a guaranteed space at the oval.

Kalorama Chestnut Festival FAQs

When is the festival in 2027?
The date is TBA. The first Sunday in May is the established pattern, but a calendar calculation is not an event announcement.

What makes it a chestnut festival?
Roasted chestnuts are the central food attraction, with local families helping to harvest and prepare them as part of the community fundraiser.

Is entry free?
Previous editions have had free public entry. The 2027 access and parking details are still to be announced, and food and purchases are separate.

Is Kalorama Park Lookout the event venue?
The festival’s established venue is Kalorama Memorial Reserve on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road near Grange Road. Use the reserve’s name when planning transport.