Camberwell’s 2017 Dine In Dine Out food fiesta a huge success

Camberwell’s fifth instalment of the Dine In Dine Out food fiesta offered visitors a packed program of activities and drew a record crowd.

The winter food and wine event took place on Saturday, August 5 where Camberwell traders put on a lively day of food demonstrations, tastings, entertainment and fun family activities.

This year there were three pop-up spaces for the event – the Pop-Up Park in Evans Place, the Marketplace Park in the carpark near the Camberwell Fresh Food Market and Aerial Walk, located underneath the Aerial Building in the junction.

Camberwell Centre Association Manager Kerry Daly said the 2017 Dine In Dine Out event attracted a record number of visitors and was positively received.

“As our fifth consecutive year of running Dine In Dine Out, we were really proud to offer visitors a fun and entertaining day and evening in Camberwell,” she said.

“Our program was jam-packed, with busy pop-up parks, fire truck rides, roving entertainers, children’s activities, live music performances and a great selection of food from many of our local traders. Camberwell was a bustling hub of activity and there was a great atmosphere.

“Thank you to everyone who came to Dine In Dine Out – we truly appreciate the support from all who visited.”

Marketplace Park

Located near the Camberwell Fresh Food Market, the Marketplace Park offered visitors the chance to experience a range of different foods while enjoying family-friendly activities.

Thanks to Afghan Village, Crepes for Change (supporting homeless youth), the Outside Broadcast Van, Popstic Ice Cream, Chooh La La (nuts), and traders in the Camberwell Fresh Food Market for exhibiting at Marketplace Park.

There were loads of activities for people to enjoy including mini golf, hula hoops, carousel rides, a mobile animal farm and free craft activities for children.

The Camberwell Fresh Food Market held their family day to coincide with Dine In Dine Out and offered tomato crushing, a ‘spin the wheel and win’ as well as great offers and specials on food available exclusively on the day.

Pop-Up Park in Evans Place

Throughout the day, Evans Place offered visitors a park-style venue to enjoy some lunch and take in the atmosphere.

With a range of food options available, visitors could choose from pizza from Boss Pizzeria, Thai dishes from Eat the Chicken, meatballs and arancini from Barolo, Spanish-style paella from Lady Paella, pasta and fresh produce from Coltivare, and barbecued meats from Rainbow Meats.

For a sweet treat, Red Robyn offered allergy-friendly doughnuts and baked goods, Jamm’d had hot doughnuts and Little Pancake Patch sold poffertjes (Dutch pancakes).

Visitors tried their hand at a game of giant chess and tested their skills at the boutique slot car racing track hosted by Race Party.

After Dark Jazz Park

When the sun went down, Evans Place transformed into the After Dark Jazz Park and offered visitors a magical setting to enjoy an evening of festivities.

Festoon lighting created ambience at the venue, coupled with a great selection of food and beverages, and entertainment including swing dancing and music from a live jazz band. Visitors were also treated to several acrobatic acts including fire juggling and a magic show.

Dinner options included pizza from Boss Pizzeria, meals and mulled wine from Barolo, Thai dishes from Eat the Chicken, Middle Eastern eats from Afghan Village, and beer and cider from Kaiju Beer. For dessert, people could choose from poffertjes (Dutch pancakes) from Little Pancake Patch, ice creams from Popstic and hot doughnuts from Jamm’d.

Market fun, Pokemon lures, fire truck rides and more

Dine In Dine Out offered plenty of fun for visitors to Camberwell.

Children and adults hopped on the antique firetruck at the Marketplace carpark and enjoyed free rides around the Camberwell precinct.

Children participated in Bubble Muffin’s educational food workshops at The Well, which taught them about different fruits and vegetables. Fruit ‘pizzas’ were on the menu and allowed kids to create pizza slices using a base of watermelon, blueberries and banana slices for the topping and a sprinkling of coconut for the cheese.

Pokemon Go fans gathered in Camberwell to make the most of the many lures that were placed around the shopping precinct for Dine In Dine Out. The event offered a vibrant setting for gamers to get involved and catch ‘em all!

The CaribVic steel band brought their fleet of drummers to play live music in Aerial Walk, adding the cheerful sounds of the Caribbean to the precinct.

Several Camberwell traders also held in-store promotions for the Dine In Dine Out event, including turmeric latte tastings at The Source Bulk Foods and several limited specials from shops in The Well.

Roving performers and entertainers

Dine In Dine Out has become renowned for the variety of performers and entertainers roving across the precinct on the day.

This year’s event had stilt walkers, musicians, jugglers, acrobatic artists, face painters, balloon modellers and hula hoop performers to keep the event lively and full of humour.