THE Koroit Irish Festival will celebrate a much-loved Aussie favourite this year - the spud.
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A focus on the town's Irish history, including its links through music and the potato industry, will be a focus of the annual event.
The theme for the festival is The Year of the Spud.
Koroit Irish Festival committee member Adele MacDonald said the event would be held on the weekend of April 26-28 and was expected to draw more than 4000 people to the historic village.
"People love the festival because it is so unique and is so authentically Irish," Mrs MacDonald said.
"We had a wonderful comment last year from an Irish person who said the festival was like St Patrick's Day in a really good Irish village.
"People feel like they are coming to Ireland for the weekend and it just so much fun."
The festival continues to grow and this year will feature one of the most unique members of Ireland's animal kingdom.
Members of the Irish Wolfhound Club of Victoria and their dogs will take part.
Kathryn O'Brien, secretary of the club, said members were coming from all over Victoria for the festival.
"We have members coming from central Victoria, Sunbury, Gisborne and Geelong to take part in this wonderful festival," Ms O'Brien said.
"Our members are marching in the parade with our beloved Irish Wolfhounds to celebrate all things Irish - and you can't get more Irish than an Irish Wolfhound."
In another coup for the festival, the town is set to gain national exposure with ABC TV program Back Roads announcing it will cover the event.
Koroit Irish Festival vice-president Leon Carey said getting Back Roads to Koroit was a great boost for the event.
"To have such a well produced, respected and popular show like Back Roads coming to Koroit is amazing," Mr Carey said.
"We see it as a real tick for the festival - it shows we are doing something pretty special with our event."
Mr Carey said the festival was playing a lead role in promoting Koroit and all that is great about living in the town.
"That is so important to us, we are proud of our strong ties to the community and being able to help groups and clubs in the town."
