DIARY DATES

12 29 / Cromwell Cherry Festival

The fruit bowl of the south celebrates the first delicious stonefruit of the season. There’ll be a cherry-cream-pie eating contest and the hotly disputed New Zealand Cherry-stone Spitting Championships. cromwell.org. nz/local-event/cherry-festival

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4 / Cromwell Food & Wine Festival

Great food and wine in a beautiful setting amongst historic stone buildings on the edge of Lake Dunstan, together with live entertainment from local musicians. cromwellheritageprecinct. co.nz/events/event-child

18 / The Bridge Pa Wine Festival Gourmet food, wine tasting, live music and a hopon, hop-off bus between seven wineries in Hawke’s Bay. bridgepatriangle.nz 18 / Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival Avocados aplenty but also much more food, wine, great music and laughter from The Topp Twins. Also expect local favourite chef Shane Yardley with lively cooking demos. katikatiavofest.co.nz 23 - 16 Feb/ Bread and Circus World

Buskers Festival 2020 Festival returns to Christchurch where a range of local food and drink come with a side dish of theatrical surprises, including The Feast of Fools, billed as Heston Blumenthal meets Carnival of Venice. breadandcircus.co.nz

25 / Great Kiwi Beer Festival More than 300+ craft beers and ciders are there for the tasting as more than 40 craft brewers and 35+ street food vendors take over

Hagley Park in Christchurch. Time to raise a glass. greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz 30-1 Feb / Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration If pinot is your passion, this one’s for you. Three days of master classes, tastings and food and wine matches and a chance to engage with the region’s top winemakers. pinotcelebration.co.nz

30-1 Feb / Auckland Seafood Festival Eat, drink and be merry in a carnival atmosphere as Auckland celebrates Anniversary Weekend. Try local delicacies, meet celebrity chefs and learn how to prepare and cook your favourite seafood. auckland-hotels. co.nz/auckland-seafood-festival

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1 / Wellington Wine & Food Festival

The best of local cuisine matched with local wines and beers to reflect the best of summer – sun, outdoors, fine wine, delicious food, great music and fun. Also get along to the mocktail bar run by Ray Letoa from the Roxy. wineandfoodfestival.co.nz

1 / Kawhia Kai Festival A yearly celebration of the harbour, traditional Māori kai, culture and the people of this little coastal town held at the Omimiti Reserve. facebook.com/kawhiakai/

2 / Sarau Festival Head to the Moutere Hills community centre for cooking demonstrations, cream teas, market stalls and food from around the world to sample washed down with a local beer or wine. A waste-free event so take your reusable plates and cups along. saraufestival.co.nz

7-16 / Night Noodle Markets These hugely popular pop-up hawker-style noodle markets are back in North Hagley Park to celebrate the mouthwatering tastes of Asia. nightnoodlemarkets.nz 8 / Central Otago Craft Beer Festival

Gather the family, a blanket and a smile and head off to this festival where local and guest brewers are welcomed to Alexandra (and some local wine and cider makers). craftbeerfest.co.nz 8 / Marlborough Food & Wine Festival

New Zealand’s longest-running wine and food festival is here for another year with Marlborough wines, local produce and world famous entertainment. wine-marlborough-festival.co.nz

8 / Ohope Wild Food Challenge

A day where participants get outside, hunt, gather, forage, grow or fish for local wild food and create a unique dish to enter for judging. Or just an awesome day out with live music, demonstrations and summer vibes. ohopewildfood.nz

9 / Wine & Food Wind Down If you’re still up to it after yesterday’s Marlborough Food & Wine Festival, then wind down and complete your weekend with wines, brews and BBQ by the lake at Blenheim’s Vines Village. vinesvillagecafe.co.nz 15 / North West Wine, Beer & Food Festival At The Hunting Lodge, showcasing the finest offerings by local vineyards, breweries and restaurants, and a strong music line-up including The Mutton Birds.

15-16 / Meatstock Hardcore carnivores should scoot along to the ASB Showgrounds for a two-day meat and music festival, with contests such as the New Zealand Barbecue Wars and King of the Que. meatstock.co.nz

15 / Sunsetter Food Wine & Music Festival Get into the groove at Smales Farm in Takapuna where wineries and craft breweries, popular eateries and food vendors come together with some of the best local and international acts. sunsetterfestival.co.nz

16 / Nelson Wine & Food Festival It’s all about summer at this fundraiser – sensational sounds, wine and food in the shade of old oak trees at Richmond Park showgrounds. Plenty to inspire foodies and all-day entertainment. richmondrotary.org.nz 22 / Banks Peninsula Festival

This inaugural event is held in a spectacular setting at Orton Bradley Park. Enjoy food, wines, beers, local produce, cooking demonstrations, crafts and local musicians. bankspeninsulafestival.co.nz 29 / Dog Point Classic Kiwi Picnic

This is the 12th year that the Dog Point Classic Kiwi Picnic has taken place amidst the vines and olive trees. Tickets, that include a three-course picnic lunch with local produce and carefully matched wines and all-day entertainment, sell fast. dogpoint. co.nz/purchase-picnic-tickets