Fun at the avocado festival
Food, music, tastes make festival event
The Avocado Food and Wine Festival offers amassive lineup on January 12— the Beat Girls are back by popular demand, supported by swingfunk band, Late 80s Mercedes and local favourite Sarah Spicer.
The Beat Girls, who love avocados, last rocked the festival two years ago. The female trio in their flashy costumeswill take concertgoers on amusical journey performing classic hits from eight eras up to the present.
The January 12 festival is a popular family event not to be missed, with tables and gazebos set out in the picturesque Uretara Domain. Get ready for a great afternoon’s entertainment. Circus in a Flash, Luke Devery and Troupe Waihi will keep the festival alive wandering around the crowd.
Vendor numbers are up in 2019, 10 stalls offer a range of boutique beers and wines with 35 food stalls catering for all tastes. Most vendors are encouraged to use avocado in their dishes. Avocado icecream, avocado cheesecake and the best guacomole ever are expected to be crowd pleasers— so bring lots of cash.
Craft Alley is back but limited to 15 stalls this year with mainly avocado merchandise— wine coolers, hats and more.
The Seeka-sponsored kitchen tent is back with chef Shane Yardley. He is one of Bay of Plenty’s most experienced and widely travelled chefs, and will demonstrate “how it’s done”.
The winner of the Best Smashed Avocado Competition will be announced at the festival. Order the dishes from the five venues entered and vote.
Corporates attending will be treated this yearwith white picket fences outside their sites and a platter of food from The Honest Platter.
There is plenty to keep children entertained with bouncy castles, puppets, free face painting and more in the free Eastpack Kidz Zone throughout the day and the Lotus Bell tent providing a quiet space for littlies. Stalls will have drinks and treats for children. The number of portaloos has increased this year with 30 on-site, since last year the queues were lengthy. Festival committeemember Jacqui Knight said there had been some big changes to get a resource consent to hold the festival. “The committee is thankful to the Councillors support to get it over the line.” The festival started 14 years ago as the Katikati Funfest. In 2003 Pakeke Lions Club of Katikati initiated the annual Food and Wine Festival as ameans of raising funds for local charities and established the Katikati FunFest Charitable Trust. The first festival was held at the Uretara Domain in January 2004. Managed on behalf of the Trust by Pakeke Lions Club of Katikati until 2012, when the Lions Club of Katikati joined. Grants totaling $158,000 have been made by the Trust since 2006. Funds raised from the 2019 festival will go to the Katikati Sport and Recreation Centre project.
■ Early Bird tickets are $20 (per person) and available at Katikati Information Centre or online at iTicket.co.nz up until 4pm on Friday, January 11, 2019.