Calling all foodies; the celebration of gastronomy, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, is set to return from February 28 to March 16.

This year's edition is centered around the theme of water, due to the good stuff's vitality to life, with chefs and winemakers from around the world exploring produce that our rivers, lakes and ocean have to offer.

Kicking off with a riverbank lunch in Alexandra Park, catering to 1,500 people, the festival calendar features free and ticketed events from wine tasting and hands-on classes to one-off dinners and behind-the-scenes-tours, as well as the festival's riverside kitchen, bar and rain-garden that will be serving up water-inspired fare that's paired with wine, and innovative cocktails by creative mixologists.

Take a look at the festival website for more details on the events taking place and purchase tickets ahead of your trip.

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