Seafood festival set to be ‘massive’
SEAFOOD lovers will descend on Port Chalmers today for the region’s biggest seafood festival.
About 2000 people and stacks of fresh fare from local waters will combine at the third biennial Port Chalmers
Seafood Festival.
Yesterday volunteers were busy assembling three large marquees and seafood chillers on the Port Chalmers wharf.
Festival marketing volunteer A.J. Johnston said festivalgoers could expect everything from crayfish to southern clams and Central Otago wines at the 40 festival stalls.
New Zealand soul singer Hollie Smith would perform at the festival, he said.
‘‘It is shaping up to be a massive day.’’
Festival committee chairman Justin Moore said about 100 volunteers would be working at the event, and the groups they represented would receive financial donations in return.
Speaking under a blue sky yesterday, he said he hoped the weather would be the same for the festival.
‘‘Noone’s stressed at the moment — it is coming along well.
‘‘At the end of everything I’m hoping for a successful festival and a nice sunny day would really top it all off.’’
The addition of a new storage unit at the port since the last festival in 2015 meant ‘‘99%’’ of the festival events and stalls could be held indoors if needed, he said.
Families could expect free entry for children under 12, a large treasure huntstyle sandpit and a wearable arts competition in the morning.
Trains would depart from the Dunedin Railway Station for the festival at 11.30am and 1pm.
Buses would depart every 15 minutes from the railway station and George St in Port Chalmers.