The Mulberry Tree Festival

If you attended the first Mulberry Tree Festival in 2018, you will fondly remember the mulberry desserts and drinks (mulberry ice-cream milkshakes, mulberry gin and mulberry champagne cocktails) and a range of fun and exciting competitions, live music, silk worms, local food stalls, mulberry trees for planting and story-telling under the Ballara Mulberry Tree that created a magical experience for young children... and old.

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Ballara’s expansive and beautiful garden (Mrs Baker’s Backyard) overlooks the internationally acclaimed Flaherty’s Beach and is the ideal location for this family-friendly festival. If you’re not a fan of the mulberry, just come along for the live music, delicious food stalls, art and glorious view.

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The Mulberry Tree Festival was inspired by the hundreds of gnarled, old mulberry trees found across the Yorke Peninsula. 

The Festival is designed to commemorate and celebrate the many childhood memories that this humble tree envokes. 

 

The Festival also shines a light on the beauty of Ballara's own, much loved tree in November – just before her green berries become ripe...

and before the ‘artistic’ mess of red and purple stains! (** removed from hands by rubbing with green berries)

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The family-friendly festival invites local schools and community members to take part in a number of creative endeavor's, utilising the humble mulberry.  Including junior and senior mulberry cooking competitions where the main rule is to INCLUDE mulberries (frozen berries or jam is fine)

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Students and artists artwork may include carvings or sculptures made from mulberry wood, juice art on white canvas, clay sculptures of a mulberry, photographs, drawings or paintings of berries, trees or children making an epic, creative mess... ideas are endless.

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 In 2015, this much loved Festival is on hold till further notice.

The Mulberry Tree Festival has and will always be an opportunity where our community and visitors can come together,

get creative and enjoy a fun day at Ballara Art & Lifestyle Retreat.

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Local businesses and artists who have participated include: 

 

Live music from Harana Blue and Cookie Baker
Winnie Fox Art and her story-telling extravaganzas
Watsacowie Brewing Co. 
Barley Stacks Wines (including sparkling mulberry cocktails)
MBC Foods' famous S&P prawn and chicken skewers, as well as mulberry icecream
Nourish on Yorkes' mulberry leaf dolmades and a range of other delicious snacks & local produce
Rustic Tarts' delicious bite-size desserts and fairy floss for the kids (and the big kids!)
Rosevale Lentils' refreshing lentil salad
Warooka Progress Association's  pulled pork & slaw burgers, soft drinks & popcorn
Everything Silkworms' tiger silkworms
Ballara Art & Lifestyle Retreat's mulberry tree cuttings and succulents
Barista coffee by Holly 
Baker Bros. Gallery items
Yurara Mulberry Leaf Tea & KIS Mulberry Gin tasters
Rene's Kitchen jams & preserves
Feral Fibre basket art by June Faulkner
Fine Art Crystals
Face Painting

and the many, many, supportive behind the scenes volunteers

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To stay up to date with the Mulberry Tree Festival, follow @ballara.retreat  on Instagram and Facebook.

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CONTACT:

Jasmine 0417 439 702

Lianne 0404 847 684

email ballararetreat@gmail.com