The Little Food Festival returns to Fed Square in Melbourne next weekend, April 15–16, for its eighth year. While it’s designed with kids in mind, it speaks just as strongly to adults and how food is understood, valued and engaged with.
The festival is a free community event which offers a lens into how food literacy — understanding where food comes from, how it’s grown, and the impact of our choices — can shape healthier, more sustainable habits across entire households. It’s as much about re-engaging adults as it is about educating kids.
Only 4.3% of Australian children meet the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables, and that figure declines as they grow. It’s a statistic that points to a broader issue: a growing disconnect from food systems that doesn’t begin and end in childhood.
This year’s special guests include founder Dr Sandro Demaio, produce expert Thanh ‘Fruit Nerd’ Truong, and everyone’s favourite gardener Costa Georgiadis.
Costa brings an intergenerational perspective to the conversation — from growing up in backyard gardens where sharing plants was a form of currency, to learning about soil, composting and seasonal eating from his family.
His Greek heritage also plays a meaningful role in shaping his approach to food — where growing, cooking and sharing meals are deeply cultural acts, rooted in generosity, community and connection, and traditions he continues to champion in a way that resonates with a broad Australian audience.
He is a compelling voice on why food and sustainability education isn’t about perfection or restriction, but about simple, practical shifts — buying seasonal produce, embracing imperfect ingredients, and recognising the social value of cooking and sharing meals.
Event Details:
- What: Little Food Festival
- Where: Federation Square
- When: April 15–16
- Cost: Free entry
- More details: https://www.littlefoodfestival.com/
