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Market flexes its mussels!

Market flexes its mussels!

Locals will have the chance to eat their way through up to six tonnes of mussels as the annual Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival celebrates its fifth birthday in style in March.

Taking place over Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11, the two-day street party and mollusc feast is designed to showcase the humble mussel, which are harvested from the structures of Port Phillip Bay.

The festival is a vibrant celebration of local food and culture and is one of Melbourne’s must-do foodie events. Fresh seafood, hot jazz and the cool market environment make this annual street party a favourite for locals and visitors alike.

Both sides of Cecil St will be closed between Coventry and York streets to allow plenty of room for festivalgoers to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

“The Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival embodies everything the market represents – a vibrant celebration of local food, culture and community,” City of Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss said.

Throughout the weekend, people will be entertained by some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians, giving the event a New Orleans flavour.

Setting the mood from midday on both days will be leading jazz performers, including Marie Lou Dyer and the Paul Williamson Hammond Combo.

Organisers have secured a performance by the Melbourne Singers of Gospel, a 100-voice ensemble which is based in City of Port Phillip, renowned for foot-stomping energy and songs of soul and purpose in the Gospel and Motown traditions with jazz-blues accompaniment.

However, mussels remain the festival’s star attraction with South Melbourne Market favourites, including Claypots Evening Star, Köy, Paco y Lola, Simply Spanish and Bambu joining other Melbourne restaurant pop ups to cook and serve mussels in every way possible.

For those who are not mussel lovers, there will be other seafood delights such as oysters, prawns, bugs and calamari from Aptus Seafood and Euro delights like raclette poured over crunchy potatoes.

Festivalgoers can accompany their seafood selection with local wines, craft beer, cider and sangria, and finish with ice cream, fresh fruit salad, doughnuts, handmade sweet treats and iced-tea.

The festival runs from noon until late and entry is free.

Find out more at southmelbournemarket.com.au/mussel-festival/

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