Bright N Sandy

Food & Wine Festival

Staged at Green Point, Brighton, the Bright ‘n’ Sandy Food and Wine Festival is a celebration of all culinary things that attracts more than 10,000 food lovers annually. The festival features ‘pop-up’ sites from well-known chefs and trending Melbourne restaurants, stage entertainment, kids’ attractions, and demonstrations in a family-friendly beachside setting. Fruitbowl Events produced this event providing end-to-end management for over five years, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all attendees. 

  • Attendance: Over 10,000 attendees annually. 
  • Culinary Focus: Pop-up sites from renowned chefs and top Melbourne restaurants. 
  • Demonstrations: Live cooking showcases from celebrity chefs. 
  • Entertainment: Main stage performances featuring a diverse mix of artists. 
  • Family-Friendly Program: Free kids’ activities, interactive experiences, and educational demonstrations
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Key Deliverables 

Pre-Event Planning

  • Developing strategic project timelines ensuring seamless execution from end-to-end.  
  • Comprehensive event programming, including culinary activations, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. 

Marketing and Communication 

  • Development and execution of a strategic marketing and communication plan, ensuring cohesive messaging across all platforms. 
  • Digital marketing and advertising strategy, including content creation, social media management, paid campaigns, and email marketing. 
  • Publicity and media relations, including securing media partnerships, coordinating press releases, and engaging influencers to maximise exposure. 
  • Community engagement initiatives designed to enhance inclusivity and participation. 

Vendor Coordination  

  • Efficient coordination of exhibitors and vendors, ensuring smooth operations and successful event integration. 

Festival Logistics & Operations 

  • Site Design & Layout: Strategic placement of activation zones, entertainment stages, vendor stalls, entry/exit points, and audience areas. 
  • Infrastructure Setup: Overseeing installation of marquees, fencing, stages, seating, and utilities (power, water, sanitation). 
  • Wayfinding & Signage: Directional and informational signage for efficient navigation. 
  • Accessibility Planning: Ensuring the festival is accessible and inclusive. 
  • Waste Management: Integration of sustainability-focused waste management initiatives to align with environmentally responsible practices. 
  • Traffic and pedestrian management including coordination of traffic management plans, parking management and pedestrian access 
  • Risk Management and Event Safety: Development and implementation of risk management and event safety plans, direct liaison with emergency services and oversight of compliance, ensuring all suppliers and vendors meet required safety and operational standards. Satisfy all Risk Management, OH&S, and other related legislative requirements, including Australian Standards, Worksafe legislation, and Council Policies such as the Safe Events Policy and approval process. 

 Program Highlight 

Festival Activations & Entertainment The Bright ‘n’ Sandy Food and Wine Festival delivered an exceptional culinary experience with engaging activations, including: 

  • Pop-Up Sites: Featuring renowned chefs and trending restaurants showcasing Melbourne’s best cuisine. 
  • Demonstration Stage: Live cooking showcases from celebrity chefs, offering insight into unique cooking techniques and flavors. 
  • Main Stage Entertainment: A diverse entertainment lineup featuring live music and cultural performances. 
  • Family-Friendly Program: Free kids’ activities, interactive workshops, and engaging experiences tailored for young attendees. 

Challenges Overcome 

  • Scaling Festival Growth: As attendance increased over the years, Fruitbowl Events implemented logistical improvements, including expanding festival infrastructure and optimizing crowd management strategies. 
  • Community and Vendor Engagement: Engaging a diverse mix of local and high-profile culinary professionals required strategic planning and relationship management, ensuring a dynamic and appealing program each year. 

Results & Impact 

During Fruitbowl Events’ tenure managing the Bright ‘n’ Sandy Food and Wine Festival, the event experienced significant growth and success: Fruitbowl Events transformed the Bright ‘n’ Sandy Food and Wine Festival, elevating its status as one of Victoria’s premier culinary events. Through strategic festival redesign and conceptualisation, we enhanced the attendee experience, broadened the festival’s appeal, and drove a 20% increase in attendance. 

By fostering strong partnerships with high-profile and local chefs, we introduced dynamic activations that showcased the best of Melbourne’s food scene. Our expanded marketing and operational strategies further solidified the festival’s reputation, drawing food lovers from across the region. 

Through thoughtful curation, seamless execution, and a commitment to excellence, Fruitbowl Events positioned the Bright ‘n’ Sandy Food and Wine Festival as a standout celebration of culinary talent, community engagement, and vibrant cultural experiences. 

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