Food and beverage festivals are on the horizon again displaying the best and diverse nature of our foodie paradise – below Hospitality Business has selected a few to explore!
Seriously Good Food Show
Mt Maunganui Sept 5-6
Held at Tauranga’s Trustpower Baypark Arena this show will highlight artisanal food and beverage makers from throughout New Zealand for the eighth year. Visitors can expect to see the return of Olives on the Hill, Kapiti Artisan Bakehouse and Uncle Dunkle’s Chilli Sauces, to name just a few. For more information go to: www.seriouslygoodfoodshow.co.nz
Better Food Fair
Auckland Oct 30 – Nov 1
The Better Food Fair is a speciality section within the Auckland Go Green Expo scheduled for the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane. The fair features food and beverage vendors that are organic, paleo, vegan, gluten free, raw & similar. It is publicised as a street eats / food market event selling ‘better’ food & beverages, combined with music, workshops and a mix of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages.
Wellington On A Plate
Wellington Oct 1-31
Planning is underway for iconic Wellington festivals, Visa Wellington On a Plate and Beervana, to go ahead in 2020, with organisers, the Wellington Culinary Events Trust (WCET), pleased to announce new dates for both. With the move to Level 1 WCET is confident the hospitality sector and festival goers will be ready to experience the festival this coming spring.
Visa Wellington On a Plate will run from 1-31 October 2020 and keep last year’s format of:
- Dine Wellington: 1-11 October
- Beervana will run at Sky Stadium on 20-21 November.
- Garage Project presents Burger Wellington: 12-31 October
- Cocktail Wellington and Festival Events will run all month long. The festival programme will be launched online on 24 August at www.VisaWOAP.com with Visa pre-sale for event tickets, available from 31 August.
First Light Wine & Food
Gisborne Oct 25
This Labour weekend favourite opens up the gates to local wineries, TW Wines, Matawhero Wines and Bridge Estate for a day. The wine tasting is accompanied by food from local suppliers, Smokehouse Cuisine, Flagship Café and Reka Cuisine and the organisers provide a bus service to shuttle attendees between the vineyards. For more information go to: www.firstlightwineandfood.co.nz
Christchurch Vegan Expo
November 8
The Vegan Expo has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2007 as the growth in plant based food increases. The expo is to be held at the University of Canterbury and will feature cooking demonstrations, talks on vegan living and how to shop cruelty-free. For more information go to www.veganexpo.co.nz
Feast Festival Taranaki
November
Taranaki plays host to an annual food festival celebrating the region’s hospitality scene. Dates are yet to be finalised, however it is scheduled for November and will involve restaurants, eateries and a variety of related establishments to host the event. Watch this space!
Fiordland Seafood Adventure
December 7-9
Organised by adventure charter boat company, Pure Salt this four day trip through Dusky Sound includes gathering fresh seafood, learning how to treat it and cook it respectfully. There’s also time for kayaking, scuba diving and shore based excursions. Past excursions have seen chefs Fleur Sullivan and Michael Van de Elzen join the tour to guide and cook, along with students from Otago Polytech. Details of this year’s adventure are currently being finalised.
To list your festival or expo here contact Kimberley Dixon at kdixon@intermedianz.co.nz
