The Herb and Chilli Festival

The Herb and Chilli Festival brings food makers, plant growers, chilli enthusiasts and live entertainment to Wandin North for a weekend that ranges well beyond testing who can eat the hottest pepper. You can compare sauces, look for something to grow at home, watch a competition or settle in for music and a meal.

The 2027 festival runs on 13-14 March from 10am to 5pm each day at 125 Quayle Road, Wandin North. Day and weekend tickets give visitors a choice between a single outing and time to explore both days.

Food, sauces and flavours to take home

Stalls selling sauces, rubs, marinades and other food products make browsing a substantial part of the visit. Ask about flavour and heat level before choosing a sample, especially if you are comparing several products. A sauce that suits a cooked meal can be a different experience when tasted on its own.

The food court offers a way to build a meal into the day, with vegan and vegetarian choices advertised. Check ingredients and preparation directly with the individual vendor if you have an allergy or a particular dietary requirement; the presence of a dietary option does not establish a festival-wide guarantee.

Plants for a kitchen garden

Renaissance Herbs’ plant sales include familiar culinary herbs and chilli varieties ranging from milder forms to super-hot types. This gives gardeners a reason to visit even if they have little interest in eating competitions.

Choose plants for how you intend to cook with them and the conditions you can provide at home. A conversation with a grower can be more useful than selecting only by a pepper’s reputation for heat. Plan somewhere safe to carry purchases if you are returning by train and bus.

Chilli challenges and cooking demonstrations

The festival’s established competitions include Captain Chilli, the Stinger Wing Challenge and Shot n Holler. They are different forms of participation: progressively hotter tasting, an eating race and an audience-focused performance. Watching is an option in its own right, with no need to enter to enjoy the atmosphere.

Adult competitions require registration and have limited places. The organiser’s rules specify over-18 entry, with the Kids Corn Challenge separately offered for ages 10-16 with a parent or guardian. Confirm the competition’s current conditions at the information point before entering.

Cooking demonstrations provide a different perspective, showing how herbs and chillies can be used in dishes rather than judged only by intensity. The full 2027 demonstration schedule and guest-chef details are TBA, so do not plan around an earlier year’s session times.

Music and time between the stalls

Tall Dan and True Stories are announced as the 2027 feature band. Their mix of original material and Cajun-influenced favourites adds a live-music element to a day otherwise centred on tasting and shopping. Performance times should be taken from the 2027 programme when released.

Children’s entertainment is included, and the event welcomes families. Visitors who prefer a gentler pace can spend more time with the plant stalls, food and music rather than the hottest challenges. Allow breaks between activities instead of trying to see every part of the festival in one continuous circuit.

Choosing a day or weekend ticket

Advertised day-pass prices are $30 for an adult and $27 for concession or student admission, with a couple’s pass at $57. The family day pass is $87 for two adults and children in the advertised 14-18 age category; check the selected product’s allowance before buying.

Weekend admission is $48 for an adult and $44 for concession or student admission. The advertised family weekend pass is $140 for two adults and two children aged 14-18. Children under 14 enter free with a paying adult.

Food, drinks, plants, merchandise and the Chilli Express transfer are separate purchases. Choose the pass for the days you will actually attend and check any booking fee in the final total. Buy through the organiser’s ticketing channel and confirm that the selected booking is for March 2027.

Arrival and the outdoor site

The event is at Romantic Nursery, 125 Quayle Road, Wandin North, off the Warburton Highway. Free parking is advertised, including a dedicated accessible parking area. The organiser describes the site as level and without stairs; contact the team if you need more detail about surfaces, toilets or distances between activities.

The Chilli Express provides a festival connection from Lilydale station. It is a separate bus transfer, so confirm its 2027 timetable, fare and return arrangements when booking. Do not rely on a previous year’s half-hourly departure times.

Wear comfortable shoes for an outdoor nursery setting and bring sun or rain protection for the day. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Keep them away from food preparation and ask before approaching animals or displays with them.

The Herb and Chilli Festival FAQs

When and where is the 2027 festival?
It is on 13-14 March, 10am-5pm daily, at 125 Quayle Road, Wandin North.

Do I have to enjoy very hot food?
The visit can centre on herbs, milder plants, food stalls and music. Ask each vendor about the heat level before tasting or buying.

Can children attend for free?
Children under 14 enter free with a paying adult. Older children fall within the advertised paid ticket arrangements, so check the appropriate product when booking.

Can anyone enter the eating competitions?
Registration, age rules and place limits apply. The Kids Corn Challenge has separate 10-16 age conditions and requires a parent or guardian.

Is the Lilydale shuttle included in admission?
The Chilli Express is a separate transfer. Confirm the fare and 2027 return timetable alongside your festival ticket.

Is parking available?
Free parking and a dedicated accessible parking area are advertised. Use the signed event arrangements and ask the organiser about any particular access needs.