GEELONG will host Essendon in the annual Powercor Country Festival clash at the MCG on Saturday.

Those attending the game are encouraged to come along from 10am to enjoy the festivities as fans will be treated to a range of exciting activations and giveaways on the day with a farmers market, food trucks, footy activities and inflatables spread across the Yarra Park precinct. 

There also be live music from Imogen Clarke, the Mik Maks, Field, See & Mason, and headliner Casey Barnes. 

Half-Cat and Clawdia will be around for photos with the kids and a pop-up Cats Shop will be onsite for all your new-season Cats merchandise. 

More than 25 local producers from throughout Victoria will activate at the Local Farmers Market including The Food Purveyor who specialise in Gourmet Artisan Gift Hampers comprising of delicious produce sourced from throughout regional Victoria.

Nicole Newman, Managing Director at The Food Purveyor is excited to once again be involved in this year's Powercor Country Festival.

"We've got a really great mix from across Victoria. We've got some great vendors from Geelong and Bellarine Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road, but then the great thing is we picked up some vendors from Gippsland, Northern and Eastern Victoria which has been fantastic as well," Newman said.

"We will be there with the chocolate pretzels are per normal but we've got Pennyroyal showcasing all their range of chutneys, sources and relishes, and they are such a massive hit for the farmers' market every year. One of the chocolate manufacturers from Port Fairy is coming in and they'll be making beautiful chocolate bars and all different chocolate treats." 

"We've got Tarndwarncoort Homestead coming and they are bringing their wool with them and selling wool on the day which will be absolutely fantastic.

"We've got Gippsland Dairy coming as well, we've got doughnuts, cakes, you name it, it's right across the board this year and we're even doing dumplings this year which is brilliant." 

Full List of Stallholders: Bendigo Brittle, Squirrel Gully Saffron, Husk & Harvest, Otway Pork, Pennyroyal Farm, Rockin Donuts, The Food Purveyor, Fookies Cookies Co, Bella Flora, Frank N AL Chai, Goomo Australia, Corporal Freddies, Ground Hues, Sweet Sandy’s Cafe de Wheels, Australian Tea House, Weyhill Farm, Gippsland Dairy, Country Baked Potatoes, Gorge Chocolates, Audley and Hall, Mt Moriac Olives, Torquay Dehydrated Fruits, Freed Beverages, Tarndwarncoort Homestead, Spurrell Foraging and Mulld.

It has been a particularly challenging past two years for small producers who have had to work hard to maintain their businesses and Newman encourages everyone to come along and get behind the producers from rural and regional Victoria. 

"It is a really important reminder to look to local producers in those regional locations, it is not just about going to your supermarket and buying straight from the shelf. It's taking five minutes to think 'Can I get that from a local producer'.

"That's what the Powercor Country Festival gives everyone the chance to do... to experience regions that they may not of thought of before, producers they may not of even heard of and products they may not have seen.

"So, it brings the country to the city and giving everyone in the city the opportunity to actually experience regional Victoria."

Game Details:
Geelong Cats v Essendon 
Saturday 19 March
Bounce 2.10pm
MCG

Gates Open:
Public: 12:30pm
AFL Reserved: 12:30pm
MCC Reserve: 12pm

Click here to secure your seats for the Round 1 clash at the MCG.

Celebrate in style before the first bounce at the Round 1 Member Function: tickets available now.