Katchafire help to reel in mussel and seafood festival-goers

Black Seeds at the helm.

The musical line-up for the 15th instalment of the festival would be rounded out by Marlborough’s own A Minor Thing and Nelson kings of swing Sun City Soul.

Cook book ace Annabel Langbein was set to make her first appearance at the Havelock event, on March 16, joined in the culinary tent by Chris Fortune and Paulie Hooton.

‘‘Perhaps the hardest part of my job these last months has been keeping the news quiet, your first instinct after securing Katchafire and Annabel Langbein is to run around the streets yelling at the top of your lungs,’’ Neilson said.

Havelock’s showpiece event would still include all the regular favourites such as cooking demonstrations, competitions, market stalls, industry displays, the Kidszone and, of course, another crack at the Guinness World Record attempt for mussel opening.

Over the years, the event had raised more than $200,000 for the Marlborough community.

‘‘This is a point of pride for our festival-goers, and we’re fortunate to be supported by such a great bunch of local businesses and sponsors that get behind the festival and are all part of the bigger family,’’ Neilson said.

Early-bird tickets ($37.50 adult, $7 under 12s) went on sale on Friday, December 7, via Ticketek.