It’s full steam ahead for this year’s Pop and Pour Festival, so wine not support the region by grabbing yourself a ticket.
The festival uses a fleet of shuttle buses to cart people around Echuca Moama’s Perricoota wine region in celebration of local musicians, award-winning wine growers, brewers and distillers.
Featuring on the festival trail will be Cadell on the Murray, St Anne’s Winery, Three Black Sheep, Rich River Golf Club and Perricoota Vines Retreat.
Festival organiser Jacqui Wegener said despite flooding there had been no changes to the venue itinerary.
“We were holding our breath for a few weeks there but fortunately all of the venues have remained high and dry,” she said.
“This event is not only going to give tourists an incentive to visit the region but give locals something to look forward to after a hectic few weeks.”
Ms Wegener said the biggest concern for ticket holders had been around the lack of accommodation as a result of the floods.
“I have had a few ticket holders call because they are worried about not finding accommodation,” she said.
“But after meeting with Echuca Moama Tourism, we do believe there are still plenty of tourism vendors offering accommodation around both towns.”
After years of cancelled events, Ms Wegener said she was really looking forward to seeing the event go ahead.
“Every corner of our community relies on tourism and this is the third year in a row that our busiest time of the year has been tainted by a catastrophe,” she said.
“Everyone in our community has worked so hard to support each other through the floods so hopefully this event can be a bit of a reward for our locals.
“The feedback I have received from tourists and locals alike is that Pop and Pour is such a fun, vibrant and socially interactive event and I think that’s just what locals need to distract them from the doom and gloom of what’s going on around us.”
Flood fundraising buckets will be located at each venue on the map and festival organisers will give away 10 free tickets to outstanding community members who went above and beyond during the flood crisis or to those who have been badly impacted by floods.
Pop and Pour will be held on Saturday, November 26.
Buses will transport people to and from the festival from two pick-up points — The American Hotel in Echuca and The Border Inn in Moama.
To nominate someone exceptional for a free ticket, visit https://www.facebook.com/popandpourfestival and put their name on the ticket giveaway Facebook post.
Or to purchase your Pop and Pour ticket, visit https://www.popandpour.com.au/tickets