Grand celebrations in the hills

By Tania Martin
THE hills will spring to life in April as the inaugural Hills Festival grips the Dandenong Ranges.
Held in Upwey the festival will promote the best that the region has to offer.
It aims to involve hills communities from Belgrave to Olinda and Gembrook in a weekend celebration of the region’s food, wine and music.
The festival has been scaled down from the original plan for a weeklong festival.
Dandenong Ranges Tourism information centre manager Michael Axel said the original plans were too grand for a first-time festival.
Mr Axel said the vision was for mini festivals to be run in towns across the Dandenong Ranges throughout the week, but that was unrealistic for the first-time festival.
“We need to start small – to get something good out there for people to enjoy and it will grow from there,” he said.
“The idea is to make it a community festival – this time we will have it in Upwey and next time hopefully it be in another town in the Dandenong Ranges.”
Mr Axel said there would be stalls of food and wine available from businesses in Upwey and surrounding towns, are invited to also join in the festivities and bring along their own stalls.
The festival will be held on Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 April at the Upwey-Belgrave RSL sub-branch from 8am to 11pm on Saturday, and 8am to 4pm on Sunday.
Admission to the festival is a gold coin donation and there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
A car boot sale and auction, live music and buskers, and food and crafts stalls are just a few of the things that will be on offer.
Car enthusiasts can also take the opportunity to have a look at some vintage model holders with displays by both the Southern Early Holden Car Club and the FJ Club.
Hills up-and-coming acts can also take up the chance to enter the Hills Idol competition, which welcomes all singers, groups, musicians and bands to enter.
The grand prize for the idol competition is $1,000 and will be judged by Monbulk MP James Merlino, Mike Brady and Trevor Chapel.
A photography competition and exhibition will also be available to show off some of the talented snappers of the hills.
Anyone wishing to enter a stall or one of the competitions in the festival should contact DRT Information Centre on 9758 7522.