Woolly Fashion Awards, Art Exhibitions, and a Taste of Italy at Clare’s Lamb Festival
The Clare Valley Festival of the Lamb being held from September 18 to 22, is stepping up its game this year with some ewe-nique additions to its line-up including fashion, art and a tenor!
Wool Fashion Design Awards and Exhibition
The inaugural Festival of the Lamb Wool Fashion Design Awards and Exhibition will showcase stunning woollen fashion designs by TAFE SA’s second-year Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology students.
A star-studded judging panel featuring the Consul of Italy in South Australia, Ernesto Pianelli, Clare and Gilbert Valleys fashionista Mayor Allan Aughey OAM, fashion designer Emily Riggs, and Rosemary Michael of Leachim Wool, will shear through the entries. This free exhibition will take place at the Auburn Institute and will also highlight the creative talents of Clare High School students in a Wool Art Exhibition, with both exhibitions launching at 1pm on Thursday, September 19, followed by a baa-rilliant afternoon tea.
When: Friday September 20 – Sunday September 22, 10am – 2pm
Official opening: Thursday, September 19, 1pm
Where: Auburn Institute
Cost: Free
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Arts Collective Clare Valley’s “Art of the Lamb” Exhibition
Art lovers can flock to the Clare Art House for the Arts Collective Clare Valley’s “Art of the Lamb” exhibition. Open every day (baa Tuesdays), this exhibit will feature works by local artists as well as a travelling display from the Australian Tapestry Group. An official opening will be held on Friday, September 20 with Wendy Pfeiffer, president of the Royal Society of Arts SA and a prize-winning ovine artist, as the guest speaker.
When: Daily (except Tuesdays) from September 4, 10:30am – 3pm
Official opening: Friday September 20, 5pm
Where: Clare Art House, 8 Mill Street
Cost: Free
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Greg Cooley Wines Poetry, Tenor and Dinner
A feature event is the Annual Festival of the Lamb Community Dinner. This year, festival-goers are in for a treat with the ‘Poetry, Tenor and the Community Dinner’ at Mintaro Institute. Your taste buds will be taken on a glorious adventure to Italy as Greg Cooley curates a wine list from some of the best Italian varieties the Clare Valley has to offer. Paired perfectly for a taste of the Mintaro and Muleteer lamb sausages with local sauces and Pangkarra Pasta, not only will your taste buds be tantalized, but so will your ears as Tenor Andrew Pryor, a former long-standing member of the Ten Tenors, serenades the crowd. What makes this evening special, is the sharing of food as guests bring along a dish to devour and a poem to read, making it a celebration of La Dolce Vita—Italian for “The Good Life.”
When: Thursday, September 19
Where: Mintaro Institute
Cost: $25 entry, bookings essential
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Simon Millcock, Festival Coordinator and “Lambassador,” expressed his delight about the festival’s expansion. “It’s exciting to see the festival expanding and bringing various forms of arts, creativity and culture to help showcase and tell the story of the importance that the sheep industry has for the Valley. This will complement the various venues that are holding culinary events.”
The festival is now the Clare Valley annual spring equinox festival that combines the first buds of the vines and is the premier time for new-season lamb that’s lean, tender and ideal for a wide range of recipes.
If you’re eager to join the fun and festivities, there’s still time! Expressions of interest for venues looking to host events in 2024 are open, and interested parties can reach out to Simon Millcock at 0407 819 000.
