“Due to dwindling committee and volunteer numbers and lack of funding availability, we’ve had to call it a day,” a committee spokesperson said.

“We will look at the potential of running it again next year, but for now, this is it.”

The spokesperson said the event had grown from a “front lawn party” to “one of the region’s largest and most acclaimed food festivals”.

About 6000 people are estimated to have visited the event last year.

“If you don’t mind us saying, it was a bloody good day out,” the spokesperson said.

“We (the committee) would to thank everyone that has been involved in the festival over the last eight years.

“We know many of you have supported, volunteered and visited the festival and without your support, it could not have continued on this long.

“We’ll always have the memories of the gnocchi, pork or cheesecake; the red, white and green dotted among the swaying, 100-year-old olive trees, shading many merry people, local and travelling folk alike, all happily feasting on Italian delights under the warm spring sun.”