📅 Sunday 3rd May. 10am-4pm. Kalorama Reserve. FREE family event.
🍁 Autumn vibes in the Dandenong Ranges 🍁
The Hills iconic Kalorama Chestnut Festival held annully on the first Sunday of May - lets us all know autumn is well and truly here!
Autumn leaves falling, chestnuts roasting this feel-good day out is a celebration of fresh local produce, chestnuts and community, raising funds for the local primary and preschools.
And for us at Babaji’s… the chestnut festival has become a part of our story.
10 Years of Babaji’s at the Chestnut Festival
This year marks 10 years of Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen cooking at the Kalorama Chestnut Festival.
Ten years of bribing our junior kitchen hands to peel chestnuts (oh the torture!)
Ten years of turning a humble mountain nut into something bold, spicy, and unforgettable - our famous South Indian chestnut curry! It’s rich. It’s earthy. It’s got that unmistakable Kerala warmth.
And it’s become a bit of a cult favourite for festival-goers who come back year after year just to indulge.
Why is the Kalorama Chestnut Festival so special?
At its heart, the festival is about one simple ingredient: 🌰 the mighty chestnut 🌰, found in abundance across the Dandenong Ranges in autumn. Head to the festival for EVERYTHING chestnut! Chestnut brownie, Chestnut soup, Chestnut beer and Babaji's Kerala Kitchen's South Indian chestnut curry!
Come rain or shine, this is a proper old-school Hills gathering. A day not to be missed!
📅 We’re back cooking at the Chestnut Festival in 2026
We’re excited to be back again this year at the Kalorama Chestnut Festival , Kalorama Reserve on Sunday, 3rd May 2026 (10am–4pm).
Come find us for some of our famous South Indian chestnut curry along with all your Babaji's favourites.
Whether you’re a festival regular or it’s your first time up the mountain—come hungry.
Will Babaji's be cooking our special South Indian Chestnut Curry for the Chestnut Festival?
Absolutely! We'll be gathering local chestnuts and giving them our South Indian touch. Add some fresh coconut, mustard seeds, curry leaves and you've got yourself a new South India meets Dandenong Ranges favourite!
Perfect for a Autumn day in the Dandenong Ranges and ONLY available at the Kalorama Chestnut Festival.
📍 Plan your visit to the Kalorama Chestnut Festival
Event: Kalorama Chestnut Festival
Date: Sunday, 3rd May 2026
Time: 10am – 4pm
Location: Kalorama Memorial Reserve, Dandenong Ranges
💡 Pro tip: Bring cash, bring friends, and come early—the chestnuts (and the curry) don’t last forever.
Where can you buy fresh chestnuts in Melbourne?
If you haven't managed to get to the Kalorama Chestnut Festival - we recommend heading to our friends and local chestnut suppliers at Bramble Farms Chestnut Farm in Monbulk where you can buy the freshest chestnuts at their farm shop in the Dandenong Ranges.
📍 40 Hunter St, Monbulk. ⏰ Open Fri-Sun 10am-4pm.
❤️ Babaji's giving back: Thursday 23rd April. Help us raise funds for the Chestnut Festival at Community Day at Babaji's Kerala Kitchen Belgrave.
Follow here for more information
