Council partners with many Merri-bek organisations to deliver food events and festivals which support community connection and inclusion.

Since 2021, Council has teamed up with CERES 3000acres for the annual Olives to Oil Festival, which brings people from different demographics and backgrounds together to harvest olives and have them pressed communally into delicious, local olive oil. Not only does this make use of a precious urban food resource that often goes to waste, the festival celebrates the many different cultures that use olives in their cuisine. The Olives to Oil festival was awarded 2023 Merri-bek Community Event of the Year

Council supported Newlands Neighbourhood House and Reynard Street Neighbourhood House to hold the Coburg Community Garden Festival in December 2023. Over three days, the event celebrated a shared passion for community, food and gardening. Local crowds at the Twilight Festival at Reynard Street Community Garden and the Wayi Garden Festival were welcomed by the First Nations People of this Country and treated to food, music, gardening workshops and activities. The festival brought together community partners who hosted events right across Coburg, including Walsh Street Waste Knot Composting, CERES Joe’s Market Garden, Merri Murnong Community Garden, Pentridge Community Garden, Coburg Farmers Market and Coburg Common.